Muka’s Court-Appointed Legal Aid Says She Can’t Represent Him As He Refuses Her Assistance
Muka’s court-appointed legal aid, Josette Sultana, claims that because he declines to be represented by her, she is unable to provide his defence in the latest trial of the case on Wednesday 25th June.
Prior to having Sultana appointed as his legal aid lawyer, Muka had engaged Mario Mifsud just three days before the trial was scheduled to start. The court refused to postpone the trial by jury again, as requested by Muka, to give Mifsud time to prepare for the trial. Subsequently, Muka filed constitutional proceedings, however, the request for an interim measure was declined.
Mifsud renounced his brief in the case last week and since then, Josette Sultana was appointed by the court to assist.
On Wednesday, after the prosecution closed its evidence stage, the defence teams took the floor, during which Sultana informed the court that she could not present Muka’s defence since he refuses her representation.
Muka and Victor Dragonmanski have been indicted over the alleged involvement in the murder of Christan Pandolfino, 58, and Ivor Maciejowski, 30, who were shot dead at their home in Sliema on 18th August 2020. Both suspects have denied the charges made against them.
Due to his refusal to behave in court, Muka has been following proceedings from a room next to the Criminal Court since the start of trial. The accused has frequently objected to the fact that he was denied the opportunity to choose the attorney he wanted to defend him in court.
Dragomanski’s lawyer, Alex Scerri Herrera, informed the court that his client would not testify in these proceedings. Herrera went on to underline how Dragomanski was always consistent throughout interrogations and he highlighted how his client was in the car when Muka allegedly murdered Pandolfino and Maciejowski.
“This indicates that Dragomanski had no intention to kill in this burglary,” Herrera said. He went on to underline how his client’s position was different to that of Jesper Kristiansen, who was an accomplice in the botched robbery and sentenced to 40 years in prison in exchange for his testimony. It was different in the fact that he was not present when Maciejowski was shot dead, according to Herrera.
Madam Justice Natasha Galea Sciberras is presiding over the Criminal Court. AG lawyers Kevin Valletta and Maria Francesca Spiteri are prosecuting. Lawyers Alex Scerri Herrera and José Herrera are appearing for Dragomanski. Legal aid lawyer Josette Sultana is representing Muka. Lawyers Michaela and Joe Giglio are assisting the victims’ families.
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