Why manslaughter and not murder?
Three members of the Armed Forces and two detention officers are to be charged tomorrow with the manslaughter of an immigrant from Mali, who was beaten so brutally that he died in a van as they took him to a health centre.
That’s right, they put him a van and took him to a health centre.
They did not call an ambulance and speed him to emergency at Mater Dei Hospital.
But then they wouldn’t, would they, because they wouldn’t have been able to influence doctors’ police reporting procedures at the hospital like they must have hoped to influence the duty doctor or nurse at the local clinic.
Manslaughter. The wheels of justice have just begun to grind, and already we’re seeing what looks like preferential treatment and solidarity between the police and the army.
Let’s put it this way. You punch a black man, he falls, hits his head on the ground and dies. You get charged with murder (and are found not guilty).
You set upon a black man with your mates, beat him savagely, and he dies as you are whizzing him to a doctor in a panic. You get charged with manslaughter. Brilliant.
Next time you want to get rid of someone, don’t use a weapon. Just beat them up horribly and then say that there was no intention to kill but what do you know, he died anyway.
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Will this be a trial by jury?
[Daphne – Unlikely.]
Better that way. Trials by jury would be more likely to be racist.
Manslaughter? Like ‘slaughter of a man’? But better here, since manslaughter is easier for the defence lawyers will claim ‘violent resistance’.
Such a sick bunch, but, hey, he’s just another ignorant black who shouldn’t be here.
I assume the police have investigated thoroughly this case. Since the evidence gathered by the police therefore points to manslaughter but not to murder, a murder charge will not be issued as it will not stand in a court of law.
Louis XV once granted a pardon to someone who had just killed a man for fun. But he added, “I will also pardon whoever will kill you.”
Only Maltatoday (Karl Stagno Navarra to be exact) and One are reporting that these five officers are to be arraigned tomorrow. The Times is still quite cautious about the matter.
The police have only said that the autopsy was inconclusive and more tests are being carried out.
What’s also strange in this matter is why the Malian sought assistance at the Floriana Health Centre in the first place, knowing fully well that he would be identified as a detainee who has been missing for three years. The mind boggles.
[Daphne – I don’t think he was missing for three years. He escaped three years ago, but was found. Thene he escaped again more recently – probably to get medical help I would say at this stage.]
Erm, Daphne, why exactly do you suppose that the doctor at the health centre would be more easily influenced than the ones at Casualty?
[Daphne – Oh, I don’t. I have been a patient at both and know the level of professionalism. But they might have. Why on earth would you go to a health centre with a man who’s losing consciousness?]
I have worked in both departments and let me assure you that most doctors in health centres take their work seriously too.
Besides, it’s interesting to note that most doctors at casualty are junior doctors. There are seniors who help but the majority of work is done by housemen.
You’re right. It was very irresponsible of them (to say the least) to take a seriously injured man to a health centre rather than the hospital.
Fascism raises its ugly head, even in supposedly Christian (my left foot) Malta where the people are the most contented in the world. LOL.
More like plain, vulgar thuggery if you ask me. Not all victims of police violence in recent years were non-white. The latest unfortunate victim happens to be non-white.