10 years ago - The Times

Saturday, January 24, 2009

Convicted murderer to appeal

Norbert Schembri, the man jailed for life for stabbing to death his former girlfriend and the mother of his daughter, will be appealing his sentence.

Contacted yesterday, defence lawyer Joe Brincat said he is in the process of preparing a lengthy appeal, which he expected to file on Monday.

He said there are a number of points 

he will be dealing with but could not elaborate yesterday.

Mr Schembri shocked the courtroom on Thursday when, after sentencing, he turned to the victim’s family and told them: “I’m still alive, I’m still alive.”

Following the 8-1 guilty verdict, Mr Justice Joseph Galea Debono sentenced Mr Schembri to life imprisonment, which, unless it is reduced on appeal, effectively means he will not leave prison alive.

In handing down sentence, Mr Justice Galea Debono pointed out that just eight days before the murder took place, Mr Schembri’s probation, imposed in another case, had been extended, despite the evidence of a probation officer who said the accused had tested positive for cocaine and had been threatening his former girlfriend.

25 years ago - The Times

Monday, January 24, 1994

Local council elections: Independent candidates take 53% of first preference votes

Independent candidates scooped more than 53 per cent of the first preference votes in 

the second round of local council elections last Saturday.

The Nationalist Party polled 41.8 per cent of the first preference votes, down by nearly six per cent from the November election when it polled 48.8 of the total number of valid votes cast.

Alternattiva Demokratika polled 1,276 votes, or four per cent, independents 53.2 per cent and other parties – the Sannat Lions football club, the Tarxien Civic council and the Lija-Balzan-Attard civic council – one per cent together.

The Labour Party yesterday described the results as another “big fiasco” for the PN and said the 41.8 per cent figure discredited the PN’s local council policy. 

‘Good and satisfactory’ 

Prime Minister Eddie Fenech Adami described the turnout in a Radio 101 interview as very satisfactory. Referring to what the Labour Party said, he said he was amazed how the MLP expected the people to believe certain conclusions it reached.

 

Half a century ago - Times of Malta

Friday, January 24, 1969

Need to set up exports council

The progress made in the island’s economic development since the appointment of the Anglo-Maltese Joint Mission was the theme of a talk given by Lord Robens, chairman of the Joint Steering Committee, at the first social-cum-business meeting for 1969 of the Federation of Malta Industries held at the Hotel Phoenicia.

Dr V. Mercieca, president of the federation, said they intended to organise similar social-cum-business meetings periodically, inviting guests to speak on matters of interest to members of the federation.

One of the main aims of these meetings was to keep the members informed of current events in the commercial and industrial spheres.

Lord Robens started by reiterating that he had accepted to head the Joint Steering Committee because, as an Englishman, he felt an obligation to Malta and her people. He added that he felt privileged to work with the Maltese.  

The Steering Committee chairman said the necessity to change the economy was brought about by the Services rundown. 

The aim of the exercise was to make the transformation as smooth as possible so that the people could enjoy an improving standard of living.  

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