Attorney General drops attempted homicide charge in Sheehan shooting case

Charges of attempted homicide have been dropped in the case of police officer Paul Sheehan, the former driver of former home affairs minister Manuel Mallia, who is accused of shooting at an unarmed motorist involved in a hit and run with the ministerial vehicle.

Sheehan is thought to have fired at least twice at the moving vehicle of Scotsman Stephen Smith in November 2014, after Smith collided with the ministerial vehicle when it was parked on Nicholas Cottoner Street, Gzira, while driving under the influence of alcohol.

Sheehan was initially charged with attempted homicide, intimidation using a weapon, voluntary damage, being in possession of a firearm without good reason during the commission of an offence, discharging a firearm in a public place, causing a disturbance at night, breaching the peace, exceeding the limits of his authority and committing a crime that he was duty bound to prevent.

Paul Sheehan (left) on the night of the incident, in the Tal-Qroqq tunnels

An inquiry set up to investigate the shooting incident concluded that Sheehan had fired two shots at Smith’s Vauxhall, and that there had been a cover-up attempt by individuals close to Paul Sheehan to hide the facts of the case.

Smith was eventually found guilty of drunk driving and had his licence suspended for 9 months in July 2015. That court cleared Smith of threatening Sheehan and attacking him with a bottle.

In a sitting this morning, Magistrate Aaron Bugeja was informed that the Attorney General had decided not to try the case before a jury and that the accusation of attempted homicide was being dropped.

Lawyers Edward Gatt, Michael Sciriha and Lucio Sciriha are representing Sheehan in the proceedings. Superintendent Alexandra Mamo and Inspectors Saviour Baldacchino and Jesmond Micallef are prosecuting. Lawyer Joe Giglio was counsel to Smith.