'I will riddle your kids with gunshots': Shooting suspect il-Quws arraigned

A man who is accused of firing at least three shots in an incident in Paola on Sunday allegedly threatened his victim that he would riddle his children with gunshots, a court heard on Tuesday.

Melvin Debono, 34,  known as il-Quws, was arraigned before Magistrate Gabriella Vella and accused of firing a weapon in a public place, holding a gun without a licence, procuring the weapon without informing the police commissioner, damaging third-party property, causing another person to fear violence and having insulted and threatened two men.  He was further charged with possession of cocaine, misuse of electronic equipment, breaching the public peace, breaching various sets of bail conditions and recidivism. He denied the charges.

No one was injured in the incident, which happened at about 9pm in Melita Street, Paola.

Police inspector Gabriel Kitcher explained that as police officers went to the scene of the shooting the alleged victim went to the police station. He told the police that he and Debono had had a conversation regarding a sum of money. Debono told him to go to his place in  Melita Street. When he went there, Debono came out of his house holding a gun and fired several shots. 

Debono then went inside and initially refused to come out when police arrived.  Police inspector Mark Mercieca went on site and finally convinced Debono to get out of the house. He was arrested. 

Kitcher said that video footage recorded by the alleged victim’s girlfriend showed Debono waving the weapon and telling the alleged victim “death awaits you” [mewt hemm għalik].

Defence questions the validity of the arrest

Defence lawyer Franco Debono questioned the validity of the arrest, arguing that at the time his client was arrested, he was not read his rights or given reasons for the arrest.

Kitcher said that the accused called his lawyer, who in turn called the inspector right when the latter arrived at the scene.

The court directed the inspector to call the arresting officers.

The sitting was briefly suspended until Kitcher called up the arresting officers.

Inspector Mark Mercieca then testified that he entered Debono’s residence at 10:15pm. The suspect handed over the weapon and he was informed about the details of the arrest and his rights. The inspector said he asked the Rapid Intervention Unit to hand him the 'letter of rights' since he did not have it on him.

The accused had said he wanted to stay in order to be able to see his daughter.

“I was clear to him, that he was under arrest because of the use of weapons and shots that had allegedly been fired,” Mercieca said, adding that Debono was agitated at the time, and he had to draw his attention multiple times.

Lawyer Franco Debono said that his client was doubtful whether he had been given his rights and reasons for the arrest at the time of the arrest. This was also said in his statement to the police.  

The court held it had no reason to doubt Mercieca’s testimony and declared the arrest legal and valid.

A protection order was requested by the prosecution for individuals who were not listed as alleged victims.

Kitcher clarified that the alleged victim claimed that Debono told him “death awaits you” and “I will riddle your children with shots” [ħa nimlilek it-tfal bit-tiri].

The defence lawyer, while not objecting to the protection order, said that his client had a completely different version of what actually happened.

The court ordered a ban on the name of the alleged victim and his children and upheld the protection order request.“Who will protect my children?” the accused asked before leaving the courtroom.

No bail was requested at this stage.

Magistrate Gabriella Vella presided.

Police inspector Gabriel Kitcher prosecuted.

Lawyers Franco Debono, Marion Camilleri and Anthea Zammit Bonnici assisted the accused. Lawyer Francesca Zarb appeared for the victim.