A court today heard how an escaped migrant was kicked in the groin when he acted violently as he was re-arrested.
The court was compiling evidence about the circumstances leading to the death of Malian migrant Mamadou Kamara shortly after he was re-arrested by Detention Service officers following his escape in June 2012.
Kamara had died in the back of a detention service van. Forensic expert Mario Scerri, who conducted a detailed analysis on the corpse of the 32-year-old migrant, had concluded that Kamara had died as a result of the blunt trauma he sustained, which had triggered a vasovagal attack.
Two Detention Service officials, Sergeant Mark Anthony Dimech and Gunner Clive Cushieri stand charged with having caused the death.
Testifying before magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera, Bombardier Gordon Pickard, 37, from Zabbar, recalled how on June 29, 2012 he had reported for night duty at around 7pm. He was shift leader, in charge of 12 officers.
During the hand-over, the sergeant in charge had informed him about a immigrant who was behaving 'like a mad man', pushing the other immigrants, overturning their possessions, spilling his food and demanding a joint.
At about 9pm, Sergeant Dimech was called to intervene since the troublesome immigrant, Mamadou Kamara, was demanding medical assistance.
Kamara was taken to Paola health centre. When he was brought back, some 150 migrants protested that they did not want him among them. All efforts by Sgt Dimech to calm down proved futile since the other migrants feared that Mr Kamara might strangle one of them.
Fearing violence and concerned about Mr Kamara's own safety, Sgt Dimech decided to transfer the man to the isolation room at Hal Far.
As he was being escorted towards the van, Mr Kamara pushed an officer to the ground, scrambled over a fence and escaped.
Sgt Dimech and Gunner Cuschieri drove out in the van to search for the escapee while Mr Pickard said he followed them in his own car.
Some time later, Mr Pickard recalled how he had spotted the Detention Service van with his colleagues struggling to pin down the recaptured migrant.
He saw Gunner Cuschieri kick Mr Kamara twice in the abdomen as the latter was trying to get to his feet. "Hold it! Hold it!" the witness recalled having shouted to stop his colleague from inflicting further violence.
Mr Pickard recalled that Mr Kamara had acted violently upon being re-arrested, kicking and hitting out to get away. In fact, Sgt Dimech had suffered slight injuries and needed medical treatment.
The three officials had somehow managed to bundle Mr Kamara into the van and after calling at the Safi barracks to bind the migrant's hands and feet with handcuffs, they proceeded to the health centre once more.
Mr Pickard said he went in search of a wheelchair to transfer the migrant indoors and was shocked when upon his return to the van he was informed by a doctor that Mr Kamara was dead.
Upon cross-examination by the defence, the witness confirmed that Sgt Dimech, Gunner Cuschieri and himself had been following their orders in bringing the escaped immigrant back to custody. Moreover, Mr Kamara had reacted violently and had refused to obey lawful orders.
Inspector Keith Arnaud prosecuted.
Lawyers Joseph Giglio and Stephen Tonna Lowell were defence counsel.