10 years ago - The Sunday Times
Sunday, December 21, 2008
13 injured as gunman opens fire on PN club
Thirteen people were injured, one of them seriously, after a man wielding a shotgun opened fire on the Nationalist Party club in Mqabba last night. Pellets penetrated the door just after 10pm, injuring people inside the club. The barman’s sister, 33, was seriously injured after being struck by pellets in the head and chest, according to witnesses.
She was taken to hospital though her condition is not life threatening.
The incident could have had far worse consequences had police not been on the scene. Though they were unarmed, they wrestled the man to the ground before taking him into custody. Others struck by pellets, including a foreigner, were taken to hospital though their injuries were relatively minor.
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, Labour leader Joseph Muscat and Nationalist Party general secretary Paul Borg Olivier as well as several MPs and local councillors were on the scene shortly after the incident took place.
According to witnesses, the gunman, Carmel Saliba, who is around 30 and lives in Kirkop, had been in the club earlier in the evening. Around 25 people were also present for a staff party.
25 years ago - The Times
Tuesday, December 21, 1993
Maltese chef’s slayer given five life sentences
A “gay slayer” who sought notoriety as a serial killer has been sentenced to life in prison after he admitted strangling five homosexual men in murders that struck fear into London’s gay community, Reuters reported from London yesterday.
One of his victims was Maltese-born Emmanuel Spiteri, 41, who was found dead at his flat in Catford, South London, last June.
Colin Ireland, a 39-year-old fascinated by outdoor survival training, showed no emotion as the judge handed down five life sentences and told him he should never be released.
Ireland had pleaded guilty to murdering all five victims earlier this year. Four were throttled within 17 days.
“These murders were premeditated and meticulously planned. It would seem the defendant set out to be a serial killer. He told others, in order to be so classified, he knew he would have to commit at least four murders,” prosecutor John Nutting told a packed London court.
“He chose a vulnerable group as his intended victims – homosexual men who indulged in sadomasochistic sex, thus enabling him to tie them up with no resistance from them before killing them,” Nutting said.
Half a century ago - Times of Malta
Saturday, December 21, 1968
MEB strike called off
The 10-day strike by 600 industrial and non-industrial employees of the Malta Electricity Board was called off yesterday. Agreement was reached by the Malta Electricity Board and the Government Section of the General Workers’ Union at a conciliation meeting held under the chairmanship of Dr V. Tabone, Minister of Labour, Employment and Welfare yesterday.
A press release by the Department of Information last night states that asa result of acceptance by both sides of proposals for a settlement made by the minister during the conciliation meeting the strike by members of the GWU was called off.
Acquitted of burglary
Mr Justice J. Flores, sitting in HM Criminal Court, yesterday acquitted Peter Cassar, 22, of Żejtun, after the jury returned a unanimous verdict of not guilty.
Cassar had been accused of having on October 4, 1967, at about 11.45pm, stolen five notes of 10s each and 41 American dollars amounting to £16-10s, from the residence of Nazzareno Farrugia, at Lorenzo Gafa Street, Żejtun.