Teen accused of attempted murder at Pembroke school 'had Molotov cocktails'

Updated 7.43pm

A 14-year-old boy accused of stabbing another student in an attack at a Pembroke school on Monday has been charged with attempted murder.

The boy was still holding a knife in his hand when police approached him at St Clare College. 

Inside his schoolbag, officers found two improvised Molotov Cocktails.

Students told police the accused had sent messages about shooting other students at the school.

The child, who cannot be named as he is a minor, was also charged with causing grievous bodily harm, carrying a weapon, carrying explosives, causing damage of more than €2,500 and threatening the alleged victim, the headmaster and deputy head.

He pleaded not guilty and was denied bail.

The court heard that when the police arrived at St Clare College, they found the accused inside the school near a water dispenser. When the police approached him, he was still holding a knife in his hand.

The alleged victim had suffered several wounds. At first, he was considered to be in a critical condition, but was stabilised.

Police inspector Kurt Colombo Zahra testified that, “In the bag of the accused, we found two devices that seemed to be Molotov cocktails [improvised incendiary devices typically made from glass bottles filled with flammable liquid, stoppered with a cloth wick]”.

The inspector told the court the accused's father had been present at all times during the investigation, and that the boy's arrest had been captured on bodycam footage.

He said the accused had been making threats when the alleged stabbing took place, noting the threats "were not specific towards the victim... but the threats and actions were generic. The threats were not intended towards one person.”

When the magistrate asked whether CCTV footage captured the incident in full, the inspector could not confirm at the time. The prosecution reiterated that it had not yet interviewed all witnesses, adding that it has yet to speak with the alleged victim.

The prosecution requested a protection order for the alleged victim, the school's headmaster and deputy head and their families.

The magistrate explained to the accused that the protection order prohibits him from approaching the school, Mater Dei hospital or the homes of those named in the order. He is also barred from contacting any of the named persons.

'Accused was a victim' - defence

Defence lawyer Franco Debono requested that the boy be granted bail, while saying the accused had been the victim of bullying. 

“Our client has also been a victim; he has been suffering from bullying for a number of years... He has reported this to the school,” said Debono. 

The lawyer said his client had been appreciative of the help the school had offered, but that the bullying had continued.

Debono said that when the doctor examined the accused, they found proof of self-harm. The lawyer added that his client had also been receiving therapy. 

The accused also reported the bullying to authorities, Debono pointed out, but despite the authorities’ efforts, the bullying persisted.

“If there is no other possibility of rehabilitation for a 14-year-old, I think society has failed," said Debono.

"By not granting bail, what will he get out of it? I have no doubt that under strict conditions of bail he will abide by these conditions,” he said, adding the accused has a clean criminal record and a fixed address, living with his father.

Debono said that it would be wrong for his client to end up in prison, without taking into consideration the “severe and extreme bullying” the accused has been suffering.

He did not agree that there was any indication that the accused would tamper with evidence if he were out on bail. 

“I have seen stories about metal detectors, but the greatest problem in this case is the bullying, which needs to be tackled,” Debono said.

The lawyer pointed out that there have been cases where the serious charge of attempted murder is dropped, and the accused is instead charged with bodily harm.

"His father told me that there were times that he didn't even want to go to school because he was so traumatised," he said.

Prosecution objects to bail

The prosecution “strongly objected” to the bail request due to the serious nature of the charges.

AG lawyer Anthony Vella said: “We have to keep in mind what it means for a 14-year-old to have a knife and a Molotov cocktail”.

He warned there was a "huge risk" of the accused tampering with evidence should the accused be granted bail. 

Turning to the claims of bullying, Vella said the alleged stabbing victim was not the person who had been bullying the accused, meaning there was a risk the accused might go after the "intended target". 

In light of the accused having already shown up at the school while suspended, there was a risk he would break bail conditions, the lawyer said, noting the boy lived within walking distance of the school.

To address the prosecution’s concerns over the proximity of the boy's residence to the school, Debono said the accused would instead reside at his mother’s address, which is not near the school.

In response, Colombo Zahra reiterated that the threats made by the accused were generic. He said students had informed police that the accused had sent messages about shooting other students at the school.

The court noted the seriousness of the charges and denied the boy bail.

The court also ordered that the boy be given psychiatric help due to the bullying he had suffered.

Monday attack

Both the accused and the alleged victim are Libyan nationals and have been living in Malta for 11 years.

Under Maltese law, minors aged 14 who are charged with crimes committed with “mischievous discretion” face penalties that decrease by one or two degrees if convicted.

The alleged attack took place in a schoolyard on Monday morning, as children were gathering before the start of the school day.

Sources told Times of Malta the accused was suspended for two days last week after being caught with a phone at school, and, upon returning to school, demanded to know who had “snitched” on him to teachers.

He is alleged to have lunged at his victim, slashing his arms and chest with a flick knife he brought to school. Emergency services were called and arrived on scene at around 7.45am.

Education ministry sources said that the school’s records show no history of violent behaviour.

The incident sparked widespread concern among various parents whose children attend the college, with calls from some - including a former education minister - to install metal detectors and scanners at school entrances.

On Tuesday, the education ministry announced it had set up a seven-person advisory board to examine how schools can encourage better behaviour and student wellbeing, in light of the Pembroke incident.

AG Lawyers Anthony Vella and Kaylie Bonett prosecuted, assisted by police inspectors Kurt Colombo Zahra, Christian Xuereb and Kelsey Bugeja.

Lawyers Franco Debono, Marion Camilleri and Leslie Cuschieri represented the accused.

Lawyers Stefano Filletti and Arthur Azzopardi were parte civile.

Magistrate Abigail Criten presided over the case.

The case continues.