Negligence charge against owner

The owner of a fireworks factory where a man died after suffering burns was yesterday charged with negligence leading to the man's death.

Valentino Azzopardi, 75, of Balzan, who had a licensed fireworks factory in the limits of Balzan, was charged with negligence and with allowing Gaetano Cutajar, the victim, work at the fireworks factory when he did not have a licence.

Inspector Kevin Farrugia testified before Magistrate Lawrence Quintano about how he started investigating the case after the police were informed there was an accident at the fireworks factory concerned on April 28, 2002.

Insp. Farrugia said he went to St Gabriel's fireworks factory at about 2 p.m. and was informed that Cutajar was working in one of the rooms when the chemicals he was using caught fire.

Gaetano Muscat, who was at the factory, had put out the fire using a fire extinguisher and Robert Farrugia, who was also on the scene, helped Cutajar out. The victim was then taken to hospital in a private car.

Cutajar, who was 42 years old at the time, had suffered 50 per cent burns. He had applied for a licence to work fireworks a month before the accident but this was still pending at the time of the accident. Insp. Farrugia said Cutajar died on May 7.

Replying to a question by defence lawyer Martin Fenech, Insp. Farrugia said the accused, who yesterday pleaded not guilty to the charges, was on site when the accident took place.

The case continues.