Four years after fire claimed the life of a 13-year-old boy in a horrible accident in Qawra, his brother and friend have admitted to his involuntary homicide.

The boys, now 18, were playing in a tool room in Qawra with Alured Bouslama on November 5, 2006, when fuel they were trying to ignite burst into flames and engulfed him.

The room, situated in the middle of a field along Annetto Caruana Street, behind the town church, was ablaze, making it impossible for the two boys to rescue Alured despite their efforts.

Their friend and brother lost his life and they were treated for burns and smoke inhalation.

The two were yesterday charged with involuntary homicide and admitted that their negligence led to Alured’s death.

In submissions on punishment, lawyers José Herrera and Veronique Dalli pleaded with the court that this was the mother of all tragedies since their client, the victim’s brother, saw him being burnt alive.

He had made several attempts to rescue his brother and was eventually held back by firemen after getting burnt himself, the lawyers said.

Magistrate Anthony Vella took into consideration the particular circumstances of the case and conditionally discharged the young men for two years.

Lawyers Gianella and Gianluca Caruana Curran appeared for the other boy.

The names of the men are not being published because the crime occurred when they were still minors.