Chaos in court as Sliema murder accused claims human rights breach

Updated at 7:12pm 

One of the co-accused in the Sliema double murder trial erupted in protest again on Tuesday, demanding a postponement on the grounds that he lacked his preferred legal representation and that his current lawyer had insufficient time to prepare his defence.

Presiding over the trial, Madam Justice Natasha Galea Sciberras allowed the accused, Daniel Muka, to re-enter Courtroom 22 after he had been ordered to follow proceedings remotely the day before due to security concerns. Addressing him directly, the judge warned Muka that his presence in court would be conditional on his maintaining appropriate courtroom behavior, stating that any misconduct would result in his immediate removal.

Shortly after proceedings began, the court heard testimony from the Director of Prisons, Chris Siegersma, regarding Muka’s behavior earlier in the day. Siegersma testified that Muka had initially refused to attend court, claiming he lacked legal representation and wished to follow proceedings from prison. According to Siegersma, Muka threatened to "cause total chaos" if forced to appear in person. However, he was ultimately brought to court without incident.

Tensions escalated when lawyer Mario Mifsud, recently appointed by Muka to replace his previous legal aid counsel Josette Sultana, filed a constitutional application. Mifsud argued that the accused had not been granted adequate time to prepare his defence and requested a short adjournment of the jury proceedings. The prosecution, led by Maria Francesca Spiteri from the Office of the Attorney General, objected. The court, after considering the request, rejected the application.

In response, Mifsud withdrew from the case, prompting a furious outburst from Muka. “It is my right to choose my lawyer. You cannot suspend it for a few hours?

Galea Sciberras responded that Muka still had legal representation through Josette Sultana. But Muka defiantly rejected her involvement, raising his voice again: “I do not want her here. You’re not giving me my human rights.”

The judge then ordered Muka to be removed from the courtroom. As he was escorted out, he continued to protest loudly: “This is a breach of human rights!”

Police inspector recalls night of the crime

Inspector Colin Sheldon, a police officer with nearly 25 years of experience, took the witness stand in the ongoing trial concerning the 2020 Sliema double homicide, offering detailed and emotional testimony about the events that unfolded on the night of 18th August 2020.

Sheldon recalled how he was the duty officer that evening when, at around 10:50pm, a colleague alerted him that two people had been killed. He instructed her to send the crime scene diagram immediately and arrived at the location within ten minutes. Upon arrival, he found the street cordoned off, with bystanders gathered and officers already securing the area.

Christopher Pandolfino was found one metre from the main door, lying in a pool of blood with five bullet wounds. Upstairs, Ivor Maciejowski was discovered with a gunshot wound to the head. The graphic nature of the testimony prompted members of the victims’ family to leave the courtroom.

Sheldon stated that witnesses had observed three individuals fleeing the scene in a white Volkswagen SUV, of which they noted the number plate – JED082. He said that this man noted that two of the suspects wore dark clothing, while the third had lighter attire. One was shorter and “chubbier” than the others. Separate testimonies confirmed hearing gunshots and witnessing the suspects’ escape.

Another witness, Christopher Gauci, told police he had been on his roof smoking when he saw two of the suspects approach the victims’ home. He claimed one was wearing a wig and observed them entering the house. He then says that he saw one of them leaving the residence going next to the car and going to the residence again with the third person that was left in the car. Moments later, strange noises emerged from inside, followed by all three men leaving together in the SUV.

The breakthrough came when the getaway vehicle was found parked in a public lot. Inside, officers discovered a wig, two handbags—one containing a business card belonging to Paula Pandolfino (the victim’s sister)—and imitation rifles. Fingerprints and DNA were recovered from these items found in the luggage booth.

Police reviewed CCTV footage from the parking area and a nearby shop, Dolce Sicilia, in which Jesper Kristiansen went into this shop, asked for the wifi and caught a cab. It also showed three men leaving the area. Footage from a bus showed them at the Junior College bus stop, heading toward Sliema. One of them was identified as Daniel Muka. When arrested, Muka was in possession of a firearm later confirmed to be the murder weapon.

During questioning, Muka named the other two suspects. Viktor Dragomanski was found staying at a hotel. According to Sheldon, Dragomanski attempted to flee when police arrived, though he was soon apprehended due to police blocking all exits. The third suspect, Jesper, ultimately pleaded guilty and accepted a plea bargain, receiving a 40-year prison sentence.

As part of the hearing, the court streamed live footage from the room where Muka is being held—separate from the courtroom—for identification. Sheldon confirmed Muka’s identity on-screen. He was then handed a document, which he identified before the court.

Defence lawyer Alex Scerri Herrera pressed Sheldon on the specifics of the arrests and identification process. He asked whether Dragomanski’s attempted escape could have simply been a reaction to the commotion. Sheldon clarified that he was not present at the moment of arrest but confirmed that Dragomanski later cooperated with police.

When asked who exited the vehicle on the night of the murder, Sheldon confirmed it was Muka and Jesper Christiansen.

Tuesday’s session began with an address from the presiding judge, who reminded the jurors of their crucial role in ensuring justice—not only for the accused, Daniel Muka and Viktor Dragomanski, but also for the victims and society. The judge also clarified that Muka was not present in the courtroom but in a secure room nearby.

The prosecution's opening address was delivered by Maria Francesca Spiteri from the Attorney General’s office. She explained to the jury the concept of joint criminal enterprise, using a hypothetical involving two individuals entering a shop with the intention to steal. One distracts the salesperson while the other steals, making both guilty under law.

Spiteri emphasised that even those not physically committing a crime bear responsibility if there was a “meeting of minds” and a shared intent. Before concluding, she formally requested the jury to declare both accused guilty on all charges, as required by law.

Dragomanski is being defended by lawyers José Herrera and Alexander Scerri Herrera. The victims’ families are represented by lawyers Joe Giglio and Michaela Giglio. The prosecution is led by lawyers Kevin Valletta and Maria Francesca Spiteri from the Attorney General's office.