A tremendous of 1,500 euros imposed on a person for unlawful looking was overturned on enchantment when the choose criticized the prosecution’s failure to summon key witnesses to the primary occasion court docket.

The Courtroom of Attraction, chaired by Choose Madam Consuelo Scerri Herrera, reversed the person’s conviction by the Magistrates’ Courtroom in 2020 for low season looking.

The person, Jesmond Saliba, was arrested by CABS volunteers who knowledgeable the police after he was seen looking with a shotgun close to Birzebbugia.

The choose expressed “nice disappointment” that key witnesses, together with CABS volunteers, weren’t dropped at testify within the first-instance court docket.

It was additionally famous that, regardless of the police report and the sworn statements given by the officers in query, this assertion was not displayed that Saliba had signed a press release refusing to seek the advice of a lawyer earlier than questioning. “It’s true that these are quick trial procedures, however police should be ready and never rely totally on experiences compiled by CABS.”

The court docket reminded the prosecution that it needed to current the most effective proof to show its declare, whereas Saliba didn’t have to show something.

Noting that the one proof he has is the statements of the cops who went to the crime scene however didn’t see the suspect.

“Sorry, however with such weak proof, this court docket can’t be completely satisfied that the hunter is responsible past cheap doubt of the costs he’s dealing with.”

The choose mentioned that the Justice of the Peace’s Courtroom didn’t think about Saliba’s testimony and relied solely on the prosecution’s witnesses, none of whom acknowledged Saliba within the courtroom and who didn’t show that the shotgun in query was his or her possession.

The court docket acquitted Saliba of all fees and determined to serve a replica of the choice to the director of the Felony Courts of First Occasion so as to be sure that the statements heard within the first-instance courts are then included within the proceedings within the courts of enchantment.

The choose additionally determined that the Police Commissioner ought to be sure that such circumstances are prosecuted with extra cautious and full proof.