Police Officer Involved In Failed 2010 HSBC Heist Shootout Asks Not To Testify In Vince Muscat’s Trial Due To PTSD
One of the police officers who was involved in a shooting with fleeing robbers outside the HSBC headquarters in 2010 has asked the courts to allow him not to testify because of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder he still suffers as a result.
On Friday, the Criminal Court heard submissions made on behalf of Kenneth Ciangura, the police officer asking the court to allow him not to take the witness stand and to instead present his testimony to the jury in writing.
The trial by jury of self-confessed murderer Vince Muscat il-Koħħu is set to begin this week. Muscat was indicted over his role in the failed heist. Darren Debono it-Topo is also due to stand trial over the same crime.
The police constable had already testified in the compilation of evidence against the accused back in 2010. He had described to the court how he saw three men dressed in suits and wearing wigs leaving the building after suspicious activity was reported.
He ended up in a shootout with the three robbers until reinforcements arrived.
Despite the crime having taken place almost 12 years ago, Muscat’s trial is only due to start now with serious questions raised about the manner in which the case was handled.
Muscat has admitted to his role in the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia as well as that of Carmel Chircop in February and has since requested two presidential pardons in relation to the HSBC case.
Muscat has promised to reveal the identity of a sitting and former minister who he says were involved in the botched heist.
His co-accused in the Caruana Galizia assassination, Alfred and George Degiorgio have both filed a similar request, even naming the two as former Economy Minister Chris Cardona and OPM Minister Carmelo Abela in a letter they sent to the European Commission.
It was recently revealed that Lawyers Franco Debono and Roberto Montalto had taken Muscat on as a client and will be defending him in the trial which is set to start this week.
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