Boy testifies about father's alleged assault at White Rocks
The 49-year-old father is pleading not guilty to the attempted murder of his two children
A 12-year-old boy who was allegedly assaulted by his father after his food was laced with sleeping pills testified behind closed doors on Tuesday morning.
The boy and his 10-year-old sister were allegedly attacked by their father at the abandoned White Rocks complex in March.
The girl managed to flee and raise the alarm, telling the woman who found her: “My father killed my brother”.
The boy was found, barely conscious, leaning against a low wall and bleeding from serious head injuries.
The 49-year-old Italian father, who cannot be named by court order, is pleading not guilty to the attempted murder of his two children.
On Tuesday, forensic expert Edward Cherubino confirmed to the court that the father had spoken to a psychiatrist on the day of his arrest.
The 10-year-old girl testified in an earlier sitting, also behind closed doors.
The court in an earlier sitting also heard how security footage captured the moment the father allegedly laced his children’s fast food with sleeping pills.
The man had admitted to the police that he had put the sleeping pills in the children’s meals, prosecutors said.
Magistrate Franco Agius is presiding the case.
Lawyers for the Attorney General Anthony Vella, Kaylie Bonett and Etienne Savona are prosecuting the case, assisted by police inspectors Kurt Zahra Colombo and Christian Xuereb.
Lawyers Giannella De Marco and Charles Mercieca are defence counsel.
Lawyers Maxilene Pace and Charmaine Cherett are appearing on behalf of the children's mother.