Accused in Imniehru murders seeks amended bail to work as security guard

Court is told that curfew was affecting Jason Galea's employability, who has obtained watchman certificate and was seeking a job as a security officer in a catering establishment.

Murder victims Mario Camilleri junior and his father Mario.
Murder victims Mario Camilleri junior and his father Mario.

The lawyer for Jason Galea, the man accused of the murder of Matthew Zahra, has requested a court overrule the Attorney General's objections to amendments to his bail conditions which, he claims, are affecting his employability.

Lawyer Mario Spiteri informed Magistrate Josette Demicoli that this was the second time that the Attorney General had objected to changing Galea's bail conditions.

The accused had completed a course to obtain a watchman certificate but the certificate had not yet been issued. A second work opportunity was as a security officer with a catering establishment, he said, but Galea is prevented from performing watchman or catering work by the curfew imposed as part of his bail conditions.

The accused had a family to support, and “deserved a better opportunity to continue with his life,” said the lawyer.

Spiteri pointed to the fact that work was classified as a fundamental human right and appealed to the magistrate to keep the family of the accused in mind.“Time is passing and the Galea family is still suffering”.

Police Inspector Chris Pullicino, prosecuting, however said that the court must be convinced that the accused satisfied all legal requirements before this request could be considered. He acknowledged that work was a constitutional right, but asked what the employer would be guaranteeing to the court. "Had the employer informed the court of his intention?"

Pullicino said that the police had not been informed of the identity of the employer and that this was necessary to ensure that there is no danger of tampering of evidence.

“I don’t want to be seen as leaving the accused, who is still presumed innocent, with no income. However in the same way that the defence has a duty towards the accused, I also have a duty towards the family of the victim,” said the inspector.

The court decreed that in the next sitting, Galea's potential employer is to be summoned to confirm the hours and conditions of work offered.