(01 November 2011, Marsa)--A 45-year-old man from Marsa is standing trial for the attempted murder of an Ethiopian migrant whom he allegedly stabbed seven times.
The case dates back to the night between 21 and 22 May, 2008. According to the prosecution, the defendant, Emmanuel Pace, had an argument with Ethiopian Ismael Obasa Hussein and a Sudanese migrant known as Marju, outside the PN club in Marsa on the night of the incident.
At a certain point Mr Hussein ran towards the police station and the defendant allegedly chased him and stabbed him as he caught up with him. The knife had penetrated the area between Mr Hussein’s chest and his stomach. The weapon was never found.
Police inspector Joseph Agius explained that the police got to know about the incident at 3.25am and when he went on site he had seen traces of blood along the area between the police station (which was closed at the time) and the church parvis.
The victim had been taken to hospital and when the police inspector visited him, he referred to a certain ‘Leli’ (the defendant) and said his aggressor had stabbed him using a six-inch knife. The police inspector told the court that the defendant had been helping the barman, Lawrence Camilleri, at the club on the night of the incident.
Reading the defendant’s statement, the police inspector noted that Mr Pace had admitted that he punched Mr Hussein twice. According to the defendant’s version of events, he had been helping the barman clean up the club and some migrants were fighting outside; he said he had punched Mr Hussein when he tried breaking up the fight, because the migrant had tried attacking him, and he said he then went back inside the club.
Under cross-examination, the police inspector said he had not received any reports of a fight between migrants on the night of the incident, but did confirm that Mr Hussein had been arrested over another fight on a different occasion.
The man known as Marju also testified yesterday, saying he had gone to the PN club to try buying a packet of cigarettes. The club was closed, but he was allowed inside when he told the barman who he was. The defendant was inside the club together with four or five other people, he said, adding that when he left, he had seen Mr Hussein close to the police station and he was injured.
Meanwhile, the barman, Lawrence Camilleri, told the court that there were five people at the PN club, including the defendant, when the incident took place. Mr Hussein had turned up at the club, but was not allowed inside because he was drunk. This was after midnight, he said, adding that he had then closed the club. Mr Pace had gone outside and returned some time later, but he (Mr Camilleri) didn’t know what had happened.
The court also heard yesterday that the defendant had blood stains on one of his heels and on his clothes, and DNA tests showed that there was a big probability that the blood matched that of the victim.
Medical doctor Mario Scerri told the court that the knife with which Mr Hussein had been injured had punctured his lung, but there were no complications. The trial continues today.
Mr Justice Michael Mallia is presiding the court. Lawyer Maurizio Cordina from the Attorney General’s office is prosecuting and lawyer Malcolm Mifsud is appearing for Mr Pace.
Source: Malta Independent
The case dates back to the night between 21 and 22 May, 2008. According to the prosecution, the defendant, Emmanuel Pace, had an argument with Ethiopian Ismael Obasa Hussein and a Sudanese migrant known as Marju, outside the PN club in Marsa on the night of the incident.
At a certain point Mr Hussein ran towards the police station and the defendant allegedly chased him and stabbed him as he caught up with him. The knife had penetrated the area between Mr Hussein’s chest and his stomach. The weapon was never found.
Police inspector Joseph Agius explained that the police got to know about the incident at 3.25am and when he went on site he had seen traces of blood along the area between the police station (which was closed at the time) and the church parvis.
The victim had been taken to hospital and when the police inspector visited him, he referred to a certain ‘Leli’ (the defendant) and said his aggressor had stabbed him using a six-inch knife. The police inspector told the court that the defendant had been helping the barman, Lawrence Camilleri, at the club on the night of the incident.
Reading the defendant’s statement, the police inspector noted that Mr Pace had admitted that he punched Mr Hussein twice. According to the defendant’s version of events, he had been helping the barman clean up the club and some migrants were fighting outside; he said he had punched Mr Hussein when he tried breaking up the fight, because the migrant had tried attacking him, and he said he then went back inside the club.
Under cross-examination, the police inspector said he had not received any reports of a fight between migrants on the night of the incident, but did confirm that Mr Hussein had been arrested over another fight on a different occasion.
The man known as Marju also testified yesterday, saying he had gone to the PN club to try buying a packet of cigarettes. The club was closed, but he was allowed inside when he told the barman who he was. The defendant was inside the club together with four or five other people, he said, adding that when he left, he had seen Mr Hussein close to the police station and he was injured.
Meanwhile, the barman, Lawrence Camilleri, told the court that there were five people at the PN club, including the defendant, when the incident took place. Mr Hussein had turned up at the club, but was not allowed inside because he was drunk. This was after midnight, he said, adding that he had then closed the club. Mr Pace had gone outside and returned some time later, but he (Mr Camilleri) didn’t know what had happened.
The court also heard yesterday that the defendant had blood stains on one of his heels and on his clothes, and DNA tests showed that there was a big probability that the blood matched that of the victim.
Medical doctor Mario Scerri told the court that the knife with which Mr Hussein had been injured had punctured his lung, but there were no complications. The trial continues today.
Mr Justice Michael Mallia is presiding the court. Lawyer Maurizio Cordina from the Attorney General’s office is prosecuting and lawyer Malcolm Mifsud is appearing for Mr Pace.
Source: Malta Independent
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