‘My Lawyer Is God’: Bidnija Murder Suspect Refused Legal Help And DNA Sample After Shooting
Mohamed Hamdan, the man accused of murdering Jean Paul Busuttil in a rural traffic dispute in Bidnija, refused to cooperate with police after his arrest, declaring “My lawyer is God” and declining to provide fingerprints or a DNA sample.
The 45-year-old Libyan national, who resides in Bidnija, appeared in court on Tuesday as the compilation of evidence against him began. He pleaded not guilty to charges of wilful homicide, illegal firearm possession, destruction of evidence, and recidivism.
Testifying in court, Inspector Kurt Colombo Zahra said Hamdan was arrested at the scene after allegedly shooting Busuttil five times in front of the victim’s wife and mother-in-law, following a minor traffic collision.
According to the inspector, Hamdan admitted to firing the weapon but showed little willingness to cooperate beyond that. At police headquarters, he rejected legal assistance, saying “My lawyer is God.” He also refused to submit to fingerprinting or provide a DNA sample for investigation.
The court heard that prior to the shooting, Hamdan had warned Busuttil during a heated exchange, “You’ll see what I’m capable of,” before leaving the scene and returning shortly after with a firearm.
The case has generated significant public attention due to the brutality of the act and Hamdan’s increasingly erratic behaviour in its aftermath.
CCTV footage showed Hamdan leaving his home moments before the shooting, with the sound of an argument and subsequent gunfire recorded at 7:31am.
Inspector Zahra also quoted Hamdan as saying, “Who did he think he was? Did he think he would get away with it? I showed him who would get away with it.” The statement, coupled with his refusal to follow standard post-arrest procedures, raised concerns about his mental state and motivations.
The defence, led by lawyers Edward Gatt and Mario and Nicholas Mifsud, questioned the absence of footage showing the actual shooting and asked why it took so long for LESA officers to respond to the initial request for assistance.
Meanwhile, the prosecution team, composed of AG lawyers Mauro Abela and Kaylie Bonett, pointed to witness testimony that painted a picture of premeditation and violent intent.
The incident began when Hamdan, reportedly driving his motorcycle the wrong way down a narrow one-way road, collided with Busuttil’s Volvo. A police officer who happened to be behind the Volvo intervened briefly and left the scene after calling for LESA support.
Tensions flared again when the LESA officer arrived. Witnesses said Hamdan became aggressive, made threats, and eventually returned with a weapon. A LESA officer at the scene said he fled after seeing Hamdan fire at Busuttil.
The victim’s widow, Mirjam Busuttil, testified via video call, describing the moment Hamdan’s son told her, “Get in the car, I don’t trust my father,” before the shooting occurred. She described how she tried to save her husband’s life, driving him towards hospital and flagging down an ambulance on the way. Despite medical intervention, Busuttil was declared dead at 9:13am.
The widow said they had simply taken the backroad due to construction on a main road and were heading to watch their daughter play volleyball. “The look in his eyes was gone,” she said, describing her husband’s final moments.
Hamdan’s refusal to cooperate after the shooting and his disturbing remarks have added another layer of complexity to the case. Prosecutors argue these statements show a clear disregard for the rule of law and an intention to dominate the confrontation.
The court has adjourned the hearing to Monday, 14th July, when further evidence will be presented.
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