A magisterial inquiry has cleared police officers of wrongdoing in the death of Ronnie Ghiller, who died after being sedated by a doctor and stunned by a police stun gun.

Ronnie Ghiller, 48 years old, suffered a sudden heart seizure after an hours-long standoff with police in May 2020 that saw several RIU officers and a doctor called in to calm the panicked man.

Ghiller, who was having mental health issues at the time and was becoming “obsessed” with the coronavirus according to his family. He apparently began to act erratically when he saw a long queue of people forming outside a nearby shop that recently reopened.

The case went to a magisterial inquiry with many questions arising over its status. However, police have now confirmed with The Times of Malta that “the magisterial inquiry into this case exonerated the police from any criminal liability”. 

“A stun gun was deployed, was conducted in accordance with the Standard Operating Procedure for the use of Conducted Electrical Weapons.”

“Every medical decision is made by a doctor or medical professional,” police said.

However, Ghiller’s widow and family were kept completely in the dark over the decision and had no idea the inquiry had even concluded. Still, they vowed to continue fighting for justice.

“This will only give me more strength to continue fighting for justice for Ronnie,” she said.

Magisterial inquiries are usually kept completely confidential and essential preclude key stakeholders, like the victim or victim’s family, from examining all the evidence.

What do you think of the inquiry’s conclusions?