1996 tragedy case postponed

A court case involving a Pakistani man married to a Maltese that was meant to start in Syracuse yesterday has been postponed to November 18.

Charges of mass murder were to be presented in court against Pakistani Turab Sheikh and Lebanese skipper Youssef el Hallal.

They are to be charged with the wilful murder of 230 people in connection with the 1996 Christmas Day tragedy when a number of illegal immigrants drowned in the Malta-Sicily channel. The immigrants were allegedly being off-loaded from the Yioham to an 18-metre Maltese registered launch. The prosecution claims that the two accused let the immigrants die and did not seek assistance.

Mr Sheikh had been extradited to Italy a year ago to face involuntary homicide charges and was acquitted in July.

He had told the police he was meant to go on the trip himself but then changed his mind in view of the rough seas and bad weather. He claimed he had tried to stop the others from going. He was eventually told the boat was taking in water via radio and then lost contact.

Mr Sheikh said he had not been informed he was going to be charged again and learnt about the case from Italian newspapers.