Police Officer Simon Schembri’s Gruesome Injuries Laid Bare In Court Case Against Teenage Driver
An emergency doctor has described the full extent of the injuries sustained by police officer Simon Schembri in the hit-and-run incident in Luqa, which he said were probably the worst he has seen in his 20-year medical career.
Michael Spiteri took to the stand today as the court convened to hear the compilation of evidence against Liam Debono, the 17-year-old driver who mowed down Schembri earlier this month after he asked him for his driving license.
Schembri’s right arm was mangled and no longer viable, forcing doctors to amputate it. His right shoulder and upper chest suffered from severe friction burns, ripping off most of his skin and protective clothing, and his rib cage was fractured, causing a tension pneumothorax and subsequent loss of breathing.
“[Schembri] wasn’t just hit once by the car,” Spiteri said. “A big force was applied on his body for a conservable amount of time. If he hadn’t been treated immediately, he would have died.”
Debono drove off, leaving Schembri for dead, but was apprehended by police officers in the Ta’ Kandja area of Siggiewi. He tried to give them the slip but crashed into a wall and was arrested as he tried to run away.
He didn’t cooperate with police officers in his interrogation, except to confirm he was living in a Tarxien garage and that he had purchased the car number plates for €10 from a certain ‘Manuel’ who had stolen them. He also asked about Schembri’s condition.
He has been hit with a range of charges, including attempted murder, causing grievous injuries, offences against a public officer, and driving without a license or vehicle insurance, and has been remanded in custody.
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