'Il-Quws' given three years for firing unlicensed weapon in residential area

A 34-year-old Paola resident has been jailed for three years for firing an unlicensed weapon in a residential area. 

The sentence was handed down Thursday and immediately contested by the accused, meaning the sentence will not take effect until the appeal is resolved.

In October 2020, Melvin Debono, also known as il-Quws, turned up at the residence of his then-partner, where the woman’s grandmother saw him trying to hit her.

When the woman ran off, her grandmother went out to look for her and overheard bystanders saying that gunshots had been fired. Following the incident, the woman went into hiding.

Forensics analysing the scene found a Walther P99 semi-automatic pistol and a magazine inside Debono’s Mercedes-Benz.

They also found shell casings on the ground and observed that a shot had been fired at a façade of a residence on Triq San Pietru u San Pawl in Senglea.

The court, analysing CCTV footage, said the confrontation between Debono and the woman could clearly be seen, with Debono seen placing his hand over her face.

Debono was also caught on camera waving an object in his hand towards the direction in which the woman fled.

This is not the first time Debono has faced charges of shooting a weapon in a residential area; in August, he was arrested after shots were fired on Paola's Melita Street.

Meanwhile, in April, he was granted bail for the sixth time in connection with a high-speed crash while fleeing police after assaulting his girlfriend in public. 

On-and-off relationship

Police inspector Audrey Micallef said the woman had told her that the pair had been on-and-off for eight years and shared children.

The woman told the inspector that Debono never hit her, but they had argued two days before the incident when she packed her things and left.

According to the inspector’s testimony, the woman had explained that she did not fear Debono but was not expecting this behaviour from him. The pair had argued about the spare key of a Toyota IQ that Debono had bought for her.

Debono was accused of carrying a weapon without a licence, possessing a firearm without informing the police, being in possession of a firearm while committing an offence and firing a weapon in an inhabited area.

He was also accused of assaulting and insulting the woman, breaching the public peace, disturbing the repose of the inhabitants at night and breaching a set of bail conditions.

The court found Debono guilty of all charges brought against him – except for that of breaching his bail conditions due to the original decree not being presented in court.

In its considerations on punishment, the court observed that the man was untrustworthy; despite being given several opportunities to reform, he persisted in crime.

Debono was jailed for three years and fined €5,000. It ordered the confiscation of the weapon and ammunition and ordered him to pay €4,106.62 in court expenses.

A three-year restraining order was issued in favour of the woman.

After the judgment was read out, the man gave notice of appeal, suspending the effects of the judgment until the appeal is decided.

The proceedings follow Debono’s Wednesday court appearance on separate domestic violence charges.

Magistrate Nadine Sant Lia presided.

Police inspector Clayton Camilleri prosecuted.

Lawyer Marion Camilleri appeared for the accused.