Jockey accused of Mgarr murder protests refusal of bail

A man who stands charged with the murder of his former partner, voiced his anger at the court today for having turned down his request to have his bail deposit reduced.

The former champion horse-jockey Kenneth Gafà, 40, who is charged with having murdered Christine Sammut in her van in Mgarr back in December 2010, protested a refusal to have his bail reduced so that he can leave the Corradino prisons after 25 months in custody. "Why is it that you people don't feel any sense of justice? You, the privileged, decide for us common folk. Is this justice?" Gafà said, as he was being handcuffed to be escorted out of Magistrate Anthony Vella's courtroom.

"You take decisions with an attitude and not according to justice," Gafà said before being silenced by his escort, who led him out of the courtroom and down to his holding cell.

Defence lawyer Giannella de Marco invoked Gafà's constitutional rights in a submission to the Court, calling the court to consider the fact that its recent denial to lower the imposed €15,000 deposit on bail, breached Gafà's fundamental right to liberty.

De Marco argued that €15,000 was too much for Gafà to afford and despite being granted bail, he was being left in prison without trial.

The prosecution, led by Inspector Chris Pullicino, replied that Gafà was granted bail within the legal time frame, and that the €15,000 deposit was adequate to ensure bail conditions were observed by the accused.

Pullicino insisted that it was Gafà who did not benefit from bail he requested.

In his ruling the Magistrate declared that he was refusing the request to have Gafà's bail lowered, and added that the request was frivolous and unfounded.