Police officers in line-up over Sheehan shooting’s footage

A police inspector whose sister is the partner of police constable Paul Sheehan – who now stands accused of the attempted murder of Stephen Smith after shooting at his car in a car chase – could have been included in a line-up of police officers suspected of tampering with the evidence relating to the incident.

MaltaToday was unable to establish rumours inside the police force that Inspector Gabriel Micallef offered to be included in a police line-up, after the off-duty officer was seen on the scene of the incident of Wednesday 19 November.

Two witnesses who said they filmed the argument between Sheehan and Smith on Edgar Bernard Street in Gzira, have told a magistrate that an unidentified man had asked them to hand over the footage, which they refused to do and the man walked away.

The witnesses were unable to positively identify the man who approached them, and picked two individuals from the line-up.

Sheehan shot at Smith’s moving vehicle at least twice after the latter, allegedly driving under the influence, hit the stationary government vehicle of the home affairs minister. Sheehan, the security driver for Manuel Mallia, was suspended from both ministerial and police duties and charged in court a week after the incident.

Inspector Gabriel Micallef was not on duty on the night of the incident but came to offer support to Sheehan.

The Times today reported that a mother and her daughter filmed the argument that led to Sheehan allegedly shooting at a Scotsman, and that they were approached shortly after the incident by someone who asked to see the footage.

Inquiring Magistrate Natasha Galea Sciberras ordered that a man be questioned on suspicion that he may have been trying to retrieve the footage and tamper with evidence.

Sheehan allegedly fired the shots on the corner of Wied il-Kappara Street and Edgar Bonnici Street, a residential road at the back of the National Pool at Tal-Qroqq. He has pleaded not guilty to attempted murder and remanded in custody.

The incident has placed pressure on Prime Minister Joseph Muscat to sack Manuel Mallia, after an initial statement issued by the government claimed the shots were warning shots fired in the air.

Additionally, Smith’s vehicle – stopped in the Tal-Qroqq tunnels after the shooting – was taken onto a low loader and moved 100 metres up the road by police, leading to accusations that officers had tampered with the crime scene before an inquiring magistrate arrived at the scene.