Susan Debattista rarely ventures beyond her front door these days.She has been inconsolable since the day her son, Police Constable Roger Debattista, was shot dead during a bank hold-up in Qormi12 years ago.
But there is one occasion the 69-year-old never misses: the annual Mass and wreath-laying ceremony in remembrance of members of the Police Force, held yesterday.
Dressed in slacks and tunics, their ceremonial attire, members of the corps assembled at Santa Maria Addolorata Cemetery for the event, held annually on the Sunday preceding July 12, the day the force was founded 199 years ago.
The wreath-laying ceremony, held at the monument of deceased members of the corps, was led by Silvio Scerri, chief of staff at the Ministry of Home Affairs, and Police Commissioner Peter Paul Zammit.
Whenever I see a policeman, I always ask him to be very careful. I wouldn’t wish the heartache we went through on anyone
Maria Spiteri, daughter of Police Constable Nazzareno Seychell who died last year aged 87, paid tribute to her father and to the deceased members of the corps.
During Mass, police chaplain Fr Raymond Bonnici reserved a special prayer for those who fell in the line of duty.
Wiping tears from her face, Ms Debattista recalled her son: “They say time heals but it doesn’t. He was loved and respected by everyone. Everyone spoke highly of him.”
PC Debattista, 34, was on duty at the former Bank of Valletta branch in Ta’ Farsina, Qormi when a shot was fired through the door where he was on watch.
He died as he locked the door when three armed robbers rushed towards him. He was hit twice, the second being the fatal shot.
“Recently, I was invited to a television programme regarding the amnesty given to prisoners.
“I declined and, thank God I did, because at the end of the programme they interviewed my son’s murderer, who is serving life.
“He said he doesn’t believe someone should serve a life sentence for killing a man,” she said, visibly distressed and with a choked voice.
“This man has a daughter. He sees her. My son was robbed of his life. He didn’t live to see me grow old, nor his three daughters grow up. The youngest was a year old when he was killed. She doesn’t even remember her father.
“Whenever I see a policeman, I always ask him to be very careful. I wouldn’t wish the heartache we went through on anyone.”