An inquiry into the fatal shooting of a man who caused a disturbance in Qormi in May 2007 has exonerated three policemen, saying they acted in self-defence.

Bastjan Borg, 52, of Qormi, was shot five times after allegedly threatening passers-by and damaged a number of vehicles using a flick knife.

The police were called to the scene and tried to restrain him but Mr Borg drew a penknife from his pocket and turned towards them, menacingly waving the blade.

He then lunged forward in an attempt to stab an officer and five shots were fired at him, killing him on the spot. Mr Borg was a former patient of Mount Carmel Hospital.

The inquiry, which Interior Minister Carm Mifsud Bonnici received yesterday from Judge Jacqueline Padovani, found that the police had acted in self-defence in circumstances that clearly showed the aggression against them was “serious, unfair and unavoidable”.

In her report, Madam Justice Padovani made a number of recommendations, which the ministry said were being evaluated by the governmental departments concerned.

The ministry issued a press release about the conclusions but did not release the inquiry itself.