‘Oh well, it can’t be helped’, youngster said when told he might have killed police officer

“Oh well. It can’t be helped.” These were the words said by young driver Liam Debono to officers who informed him that he might have just killed a police officer.

Liam Debono, 17, is accused of attempted murder and 46 other charges after dragging a policeman who had stopped him over a seatbelt infraction, for a distance under his car.

Debono had already been arraigned and denied bail after running over PC Simon Schembri. Schembri lost an arm in the incident and narrowly escaped with his life.

Yesterday morning the list of charges against Debono was resubmitted with a number of new charges, including hit and run, driving the Mercedes in question which should have been garaged with no insurance and a false number plate. Defence lawyer Franco Debono said that as the proceedings were starting again, he would be requesting bail again, but the request was denied.

Yesterday morning magistrate Joe Mifsud heard the control room police officer who took Schembri’s call describe how she heard the officer ask for his licence and then the car drive off.

Inspector Chantelle Casha prosecuting summoned a number of police officers involved in the arrest to testify.

“I told him ‘do you know you might have killed him?’ Sergeant Christopher Debrincat from the RIU said. “He replied ‘heqq, m’hemmx xtaghmel’ (It can’t be helped).”

PC Luke Ciangura from the RIU, who was on duty with the sergeant said the same. “He showed no remorse.”

Franco Debono cross-examined, asking Ciangura whether he had offended the accused. He denied doing so or threatening to kill him, twisting his hands with his handcuffs and tasering the accused.

Inspector Fabian Fleri interrupted the questioning to point out that the man had been examined by a doctor upon his arrest and that no taser marks were seen.

Forensic pathologist Mario Scerri took the witness stand next. He had examined PC Schembri as he was brought in. “He was intubated. I noticed full thickness friction burns on his chest. His clothes were burnt off by friction and also his rib bones were visible. His hand was degloved, requiring an above the wrist amputation as it couldn’t be saved. They were very grievous injuries.”

Had there not been immediate intervention the officer would have lost his life, said the doctor.

The case continues today. Simon Schembri will testify next month.