‘How Dare He Come To Our Country And Throw Rocks At Maltese?’: Soldiers Allegedly Told Witness After Ħal Far Hit-And-Run
The man who was with the two young soldiers charged with a series of racially motivated attacks during a hit-and-run incident has said the pair were shocked that a migrant would dare throw rocks at them after they had sworn at him profusely.
“How dare he come to our country and throw rocks at us Maltese?” the two young men allegedly told the witness, a delivery man named Jason Green.
Francesco Fenech, 21, and Lorin Scicluna, 22, have been charged with the murder of Cisse Souleymane in Triq il-Ġebel last month, as well as with the hit-and-run of 17-year-old May Malimi in that same country-road back in February.
Fenech did confirm to the court that an incident between the pair and Malimi had occurred, saying that the victim had kicked their car without provocation. Upon them exiting the vehicle, Malimi ran off, Fenech claimed. He however denied that the broken windscreen on Scicluna’s Toyota Starlet was the result of the hit-and-run incident, saying that a collision with a central strip caused the crack.
Fenech also said that he and Scicluna would go to Ħal Far to tease migrants, but insisted that this was done in jest rather than spite. He said that he did not hate migrants, but was unhappy that they came to Malta
Green, who was with the pair on the day of the hit-and-run, testified to the court that Fenech told him the windscreen was the result of running someone over.
Pressed as to why he failed to ask for further details, Green said he simply knew that it had taken place in Ħal Far. He added that a photo of the windscreen that was shared on WhatsApp was quickly deleted.
“[Fenech] doesn’t like migrants, because the country is filling up with them,” Green said when trying to provide a reason behind the attack
On the day itself, Green said the three of them had gone hunting near the Ħal Safi Barracks. He said they had sworn at a migrant “to pick on him”, who in turn threw stones at the car.
Green said he was then told to turn the car’s number plates (which were on the dashboard) upside down. He said he left shortly afterwards.
Lawyer Gianella De Marco, who is representing Fenech, interjected when Green was asked for further details on the hit-and-run, saying that the victim was run over and “only one person was driving the car”.
Lassana Cisse Souleymane was murdered last month, weeks after the hit-and-run in question
“Shots came from the driver’s side”: Fenech’s Lawyer
In an earlier cross-examination from De Marco, Arnaud said the car belonged to Scicluna. He also revealed that the semi-automatic Ruger 9mm was registered under Scicluna’s name. Six 9mm bullet casings were found at the scene of the crime. Arnaud also said that Scicluna took police to the crime scene.
Scicluna was driving the car at the time of the shooting, with De Marco saying that the witnesses said the shots came from the driver’s side.
Fenech has denied that he was involved with the murder.
Last week, Arnaud detailed how Scicluna did admit to being present when the murder took place. However, he insisted that it was Fenech who pulled the trigger.
READ NEXT: Survivors Of Ħal Far Racist Attacks Plead For Help From Maltese State After Soldiers’ Arrest
