Sliema double murder jury retire to consider verdict
Daniel Muka and Viktor Dragomanski stand accused of the brutal 2020 crime
The jury in the trial of two men accused of a brutal double murder that shocked the nation have retired to consider their verdict.
Daniel Muka, 30, is standing trial with 42-year-old Viktor Dragomanski over their alleged involvement in the murder of Christian Pandolfino and Ivor Maciejowski, who were shot dead at their Sliema house in August 2020.
A third individual, Jesper Kristiansen, has already been jailed for 40 years in connection with the murder after pleading guilty as part of a plea deal. He testified against the two men a week ago.
Yesterday, Muka was brought into the courtroom and asked if he would like to follow the proceedings from there, but after telling the court he would not adhere to court rules if he stayed inside was escorted out once again.
Since the beginning of the trial, Muka has been following proceedings from a nearby room via video conferencing. The accused sought to postpone the trial on its first day after he informed the court that he wanted to change lawyer.
The court refused to postpone for at least 20 days, and Muka filed constitutional proceedings requesting an interim measure, which was also refused.
Presiding judge Natasha Galea Sciberras delivered her final address to the jurors, in which she explained basic principles of criminal law which should guide them in their decision.
The jurors were told that Muka was facing nine charges while Dragomanski was facing three.
The judge underlined that Muka following the trial remotely should not lead to prejudice against him.
The jurors were told Muka had refused a legal aid lawyer since November 2023, with Madam Justice Galea Sciberras noting that the right to remain silence was a cardinal principle of the judicial system and should not be seen as an indication of anything.
It is up to the prosecution to prove its case, the judge added, as she invited the jurors to analyse the evidence brought forward.
As she summed up the evidence, the judge also mentioned the arguments raised by the defence, including a reference to Dragomanski’s statement to the police where he said he was unaware that a weapon would be used in the burglary.
The prosecution observed that Dragomanski had seen his co-accused with a weapon.
The judge also highlighted that the jurors needed to consider Dragomanski’s claims in the statement, including him claiming to have told Muka, “don’t shoot for no reason”.
On Saturday morning, Madam Justice Galea Sciberras finished delivering her statement before the jurors were sent off.
AG lawyers Maria Francesca Spiteri and Kevin Valletta prosecuted.
Lawyers José Herrera and Alex Scerri Herrera assisted Dragomanski.
Legal aid lawyer Josette Sultana represented Muka.