Pregnant teen charged with attempted murder of seven, including baby
A troubled 19-year-old teenager who is three months pregnant yesterday pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder of no less than 7 people, one of whom is an 18-month-baby.
Natasha Bugeja, from Cospicua, was denied bail and is being kept in custody for the time being. In addition to the attempted murder of seven people on 7 January, she is also charged with causing wilful damage on six cars, causing slight injury, carrying a knife, breaching the peace, knowingly harassing two people involved in the scuffle and two counts of misuse of electronic communications.
The accused, whose relatives were present in court, is employed as a care worker together with her mother.
The incident took place on 7 January of this year, when a fight broke out in Hamrun.
Prosecuting inspector Elliott Magro told the court how police had been alerted, and that the accused attempted to drive onto a number of people and in the process damaged six cars and injured herself. The incident took place at around 6.15 pm on the day in question, with Magro telling the court that around four or five different police units were called to the scene to deescalate the situation.
The argument involved some 10 people and took place in the vicinity of San Gorg Preca School. It resulted that four people suffered slight injury.
Magro told the court that Bugeja had been taken to hospital immediately in order to ensure that the baby’s life was not in danger. She was granted police bail 48 hours later. When asked by the defence, Franco Debono and Arthur Azzopardi, Magro said that Bugeja cooperated in full with keeping police appointments and there was no issue with her out on police bail.
Yesterday in court, lawyers Azzopardi and Debono put forward a request for bail. Azzopardi argued that neither Bugeja nor her family had approached the victims or any civilian witnesses and reminded the court how Bugeja cooperated in full despite being out on police bail until her initial arraignment which took place today.
Azzopardi went on to say that he was not using the fact that the accused is pregnant to make a request for bail, but that it had not been assured that some civilian witnesses could be compelled to testify and therefore it might mean that Bugeja would remain remanded in custody for such time that she could wind up giving birth from prison.
Magistrate Joe Mifsud remarked that the mother has a responsibility to avoid dangerous situations, but that the court wished to protect the baby to the full extent.
Azzopardi went on to say that the accused is a carer together with her mother under a government scheme, and that the person they care for is receiving intense treatment for cancer. Azzopardi relayed a concern that the patient would end up without a carer. He also argued that the whole argument is available on CCTV, so technically witnesses do not even need to testify.
All things considered, Magistrate Mifsud denied the request for bail while the case continues.