The suspects’ right to consult a lawyer before interrogation is physically demanding on lawyers but also poses an ethical issue, according to a University lecturer and criminal lawyer.
Speaking during yesterday’s graduation ceremony, lawyer Stefano Filletti referred to two landmark constitutional judgements ruling that suspects denied access to a lawyer prior to police interrogation had their human rights breached.
He explained that recent amendments to the law introduced the notion of “inferences from silence”.
“If a suspect remains silent during interrogation but then, during the trial, testifies and refers to facts with a view of exculpating himself, that fact alone will allow the judge or jury to draw an inference against the accused,” he said.
Every lawyer had a serious and grave duty to advise his client correctly according to the circumstances, Dr Filletti said.
Austin Bencini, graduate in doctor of philosophy in laws and a civil rights lawyer, spoke about the ethical values and virtues of the Constitution.
He pointed out that there “exists a largely untapped source of ethical values in the Constitution which, if utilised by the institutions, would be fundamental to the governance of the country and making laws”.
A particular article of the Constitution “uniquely recognises” that, beyond the notions of legality and illegality or of constitutionality and unconstitutionality, “there exist the notions of ‘right’ and ‘wrong’” applicable to the state.
“This makes of the state of Malta an ethical entity by constitutional definition,” Dr Bencini said.
Doctor of Laws
Sponsor: Prof. Kevin Aquilina
Amaryllis Agius, Lee-Ann Agius, Marie Elise Agius, Luca Amato, Petra Attard, John Axiak, Diana Bajada, Eucharist Bajada, Martin Bajada, Maria Barbara, Elsa Borg, Ian Borg, Simon Borg Barthet, Lisa Brincat, Jens Buedinger, Carlos Bugeja, Daniel Bugeja, John Bugeja, Mamudu Zanya Bugre, Nicola Buhagiar, Beryl Jean Buttigieg, Daniel Buttigieg, Jeanelle Cachia, Josef Cachia, Christine Calleja, Charlene Camilleri Zarb, Abigail Caruana, Daniel Caruana, Luke Caruana, Yanica Caruana, Ann Marie Cauchi, Deborah Ann Chappell, Joelle Cortis, Victoria Cuschieri, Alexei Dalli, Andrea Darmanin, Annalisa Debono, Stephanie Deguara, Krista Josephine Falzon, Roxane Farrugia, Greta Fenech, Renata Formosa, Elizabeth Gaerty, Audrienne Galea,Bernard John Galea, Maria Galea, Karl Gonzi, Stefania Grech, Vanessa-Marie Grech, Ylenia Grech, Cory Greenland, Maxine Grima, Alexia Grixti, Josef Laferla, Valentina Lattughi, Rochelle Raemarie Magri, Elaine Magro, Christopher Mallia, Christina Meli, David Joseph Meli, Angelo Micallef, Edric Micallef Figallo, Nadia Mifsud, Philip Mifsud, Christopher Mizzi, Joseph Mizzi, Matthew Mizzi, Michaela Muscat, Maria Elena Perici Calascione, Michela Pirotta, Pamela Portanier, Benjamin Pule’, Luke Rizzo, Jan Rossi, Mireille Sacco, Jessica Said, Giuseppe Sammut, Josianne Sammut, Lena Sammut, Sandra Sant Fournier, Cristina Maria Scerri, Sharona Schembri, Bernardine Sciberras, Charlotte Spiteri, Marlene Spiteri, Robert Spiteri, Stefania Spiteri, Krista Spiteri Colombo, Lynn Spiteri Dalmas, Andrew Stafrace, Clint Tabone, Michele Tufigno, Anthony Vella, Sarah Vella, Jason Vella Tabone, Veronica Anne Young, Alessia Zammit, Steven Zammit Briffa, Stephanie Zarb, Albert Anthony Zerafa and Mario Zerafa.
Master of European and Comparative Law
Sponsor: Prof. Kevin Aquilina
Björn Kiesrau and Mathias Scholz.
Master of Laws in International Law
Sponsor: Prof. Kevin Aquilina
Roberta Avellino.
Magister Juris
Sponsor: Prof. Kevin Aquilina
Mark Attard Montalto, Ruth Baldacchino, Christine Bellizzi, Nadya Fiott, Maxilene Pace and Simon Pullicino.
Doctor of Philosophy In Laws
Sponsor: Prof. Kevin Aquilina
Austin Bencini