Jeremie Camilleri told police he wanted "to be famous" and that he was "a psychopath and proud" as officers attempted to arrest him for the murder of Pelin Kaya.
A court also heard that footage shows Camilleri drive his BMW directly at the Turkish woman, then get out and stone her, shouting "f**k you" at her as she lay dying on the Msida Road in Gżira in the early hours of January 18.
She was left in such a state that police were initially unable to ascertain if the victim was a man or a woman.
Police witnesses described a scene of "madness" as they testified in the first sitting of the compilation of evidence against Camilleri on Monday morning.
The key details that emerged from the case were:
- In a deleted message to his ex-girlfriend at midnight, Camilleri told her he was a psychopath, a proud criminal and that the next morning she would hear about him on the news;
- Footage shows Camilleri's BMW change direction and drive directly at the victim, whom he had no known relationship with;
- Footage shows him throw stones at the victim as she lay on the ground;
- After his arrest, Camilleri asked police where the national broadcaster TVM was, saying: "I want to be famous". He repeated similar claims to a doctor;
- Three witnesses claim they were attacked by Camilleri at the scene, including a woman left with a head wound;
- Camilleri threatened an officer after his arrest claiming he was memorising the officer's face to find him later;
- Pelin Kaya had been walking to meet her boyfriend, who, as he approached to meet her, came across police and first responders.
Ahead of the sitting, the Kaya family gathered at the scene of the murder outside a petrol shop and KFC outlet. Her mother had travelled to Malta to lay flowers at the scene and attend the court case.
The victim had just turned 30 when she was killed in the 1am incident that has shocked Malta.
Camilleri is facing a litany of charges including murder, grievously injuring another woman, slightly injuring a man, wilful damage to third-party property and driving his BMW X6 in a reckless, negligent or dangerous manner.
He is further accused of driving under the influence of drink or drugs, cocaine possession and unauthorised possession of another drug, namely Diazepam.
Camilleri, who was restrained by police using a taser following the incident on Msida Road, is also charged with violently resisting arrest, disobeying legitimate police orders, using force against others, wilfully disturbing the peace and breaching a probation order.
LIVE BLOG
'You're going to die'
1.36pm As the accused was being led out under heavy escort, one of the victim’s relatives told him “you’re going to die.” She was in tears and was shushed by the family lawyer who reminded her that she was in court.
Sitting ends
1.31pm That's it for today. The defence says that at this stage, there is no request for bail. The next hearing is set for February 9 at 11.15am. Join us then.
We will have a summary of today's proceedings above shortly.
Camilleri warned police he had 'sharp teeth'
1.22pm Police Sergeant Antonio Bellizzi takes the stand. By the time he had arrived at the scene Camilleri was arrested. There was a woman on the ground who was being assisted by a medical team from Mater Dei, a BMW crashed into KFC and lots of stones on the road.
Belizzi gave the arrested man his rights and remained with him. Jeremie warned him to “beware because he had very sharp teeth”.
On the way to the hospital, Camilleri told the witness that “he was memorising his face so that he would find him once it was all over.”
'Was his behaviour normal?'
1.17pm The defence asks the witness to describe the accused’s behaviour. Was he normal, lawyer Alfred Abela asks. That question causes some objection by the prosecution but the question is allowed. Very aggressive and not normal, the witness confirms.
Not sure if victim was dead or alive
1.12pm Superior officers went on site and gave the aggressor his rights too. At the time, the witness did not know whether the victim was dead. He was focusing on giving her first aid to try to save her. She was unconscious with blood on her head.
Cocaine and cannabis
1.11pm Camilleri also told police that he took cocaine and cannabis.
'I'm a psychopath and I'm proud of it'
1.04pm A second RIU officer takes the stand. Tyrone Cassar gives the same account. There were “many, many people on site. There were people along the pavement,” Cassar recalls. He describes how the accused, dressed in black had his arms open wide, telling bystanders, “watch me fight the police.”
As the two officers got out of their car, he walked towards them. “Come, come,” he said, opening his arms. The officers told him to calm down. “Relax.”
As Camilleri approached, police rapped out the order “on your knees". But he ignored them and put up his hands in fists. All of this is caught on bodycam.
This was when the officer tasered and handcuffed him. Camilleri told them that he drove the BMW and crashed into KFC. He kept repeating “Paris Saint Germain”. He was shouting: “Where is TVM? I want to be famous."
He also shouted: “I’m a psychopath and I’m proud about it.”
'Where are TVM'?
1.01pm Camilleri was given his legal rights twice. The call from the control room was at 1.10pm and by 1.15pm he was arrested.
“Where are TVM?" Camilleri demanded, swearing at the arresting officers.
The arresting officer says that they put no questions to the accused but just worked to arrest him.
'We had never seen anything like it before'
12.59pm The witness describes the scene as "movie like", saying the officers had "never seen anything like it before".
Third parties told police that he had hit them too. Camilleri was very aggressive. Everyone was afraid of him.
There were bricks strewn across the road, big and small. There were so many stones that at first RIU officers feared they would damage the police car.
Then Camilleri began to insult them. He was aggressive up to the very end, even when handcuffed he threatened the officers.
“It was a nasty scene".
Unclear if victim was man or woman
12.58pm The officer continues. The victim was to the side, on the road, her face so bloody that he couldn’t tell if the victim was a man or woman. At this detail, Pelin Kaya’s mother sobs in court.
'I want to be famous'
12.55pm Camilleri told police that he was proud because he had killed a person. "I want to be famous", he said. He threatened to find the police after it was all over.
RIU officer in tears
12.53pm As the officers approached Camilleri he said: “watch me fight the police.” He was ordered to kneel but did not obey. Instead he made fists at the police and demonstrated punching stances. Again he was warned and then tasered. He was then handcuffed. He told them that the BMW was his and the number plate was “Paris St Germain”.
Then he tried to help the ambulance people. The witness breaks down in tears. He says that he saw the victim but “it was all in vain.” The witness takes a break.
'Total madness'
12.51pm Arresting officers from the Rapid Intervention Unit testify next. The first officer, Luke Ciangura, tells the court that they were summoned by the control room about an accident at Gzira near KFC. They found total chaos.
Bricks on the road, people running about, a man throwing bricks. “There was total madness.”
A man in a car pointed out the aggressor: “that’s him!”
Camilleri stares ahead
12.50pm While Inspector Zahra testifies in court, the defendant, Jeremie Camilleri is staring straight ahead, hands clasped on his lap. Occasionally he turns to the interpreter.
'F**k You' Camilleri told victim as he stoned her
12.45 pm The family's lawyer Shazoo Ghaznavi asks the inspector how he knows that the accused threw stones. From eyewitnesses and also from footage.
Did eyewitnesses describe his behaviour while he threw stones, Ghaznav asks. Yes.
He was aggressive and said “f**k you” and more words in a similar vein. Those words were addressed towards the victim and third parties.
No known relationship with accused
12.42pm Inspector Zahra details how the police tried to ascertain if there was any relationship between the accused and the victim.
Police spoke to her best friend who said that minutes earlier she had been celebrating her birthday at her friend’s flat in Gżira. As far as she knew the victim did not know the accused.
Pelin Kaya’s flatmate also said that she had heard her come home that night and then went out again.
Call data also indicated no interaction between the accused and the victim. They came from opposite directions and their paths only crossed when he hit her near KFC.
Camilleri's mother questioned
12.40pm Police also spoke to Camilleri's mother. She attended with her lawyers and did not answer most questions but confirmed that Jeremie drove the BMW.
Jeremie was given his rights. He did not want to answer anything.
He was shown footage from KFC showing Kaya on the ground unconscious while he flung stones.
He still remained silent.
'I want to be on TV'
12.35pm Zahra testified that when he was being arrested, he told police that he wanted broadcaster TVM on site to be popular.
"I want to be on TV, bring TVM," he told arresting officers, all of which was captured on bodycam.
'Proud criminal'
12.34pm That night Camilleri had argued with his ex. He wanted to meet her and she didn’t. Close to midnight he sent her a voice recording which he then deleted. Police retrieved it. In that message he said that he was a psychopath, a proud criminal and that the next morning she would hear about him on the news.
Camilleri 'wanted to hurt someone'
12.30pm When Camilleri went to the hospital emergency he made certain statements which were concerning, Zahra says. He allegedly told a doctor that “he wanted to hurt someone.” What’s the worst thing that ever happened in Malta? He wanted to do something to make him popular.
Camilleri left home 8-10 minutes before
12.28pm Police then went to Camilleri’s Lija address. Footage seized from there showed that he left home some 8-10 minutes before the incident. He took the Birkirkara bypass, he got caught by a speed camera driving at 75.8km/hr at 60 speed limit. Then another camera at Testaferrata driving at moderate speed, another camera further on and finally the camera at KFC.
The speed ticket was issued against his mother. It was paid online shortly after the incident by his mother. Zahra presents the contravention paper and the date paid.
CCTV footage and bodycams
12.25pm CCTV footage and bodycams captures various scenes, including Camilleri being thrown on the ground as people tried to intervene. However Camilleri got up and picked stones of varying sizes and flung them onto the victim.
BMW 'headed straight at her'
12.22pm The next day police scouted the area of Msida Road and Testaferrata Street for footage of the incident. One piece of footage showed the driver heading along Testaferrata to Sliema at a moderate speed. It is a straight stretch of road.
In the footage he is seen coming from Testaferrata, Pelin was coming from Msida heading to Sliema too. She was on the pavement when he came from the back. She couldn’t see him coming. The BMW changed direction and headed straight at her. She was flung aside on the KFC pavement. He got out, dressed in black and began to attack people.
Police taser accused
12.20pm When police got there Camilleri did not comply and had to be tasered. He was then handcuffed. In the footage he said that he was the driver who smashed into KFC and he also gave them the number plate. PSG for Paris St Germain.
Footage shows Camilleri stone victim
12.19pm Footage also showed Camilleri throw stones and flinging them on the victim who was lying face down on the ground. The eyewitnesses confirmed that too, Zahra tells the court. He also began to foul mouth the people. “Watch me fight the police” he shouted out.
Female eyewitness left with head wound
12.16pm Inspector Kurt Zahra now describes what happened to a third eyewitness. A female eyewitness also saw the incident and got hit on the head by Camilleri. She had a head wound. The woman went to Msida police station two days after the incident and gave her account.
Second eyewitness attacked
12.14pm Another pastizzeria worker saw the same incident. The BMW smashed into KFC and the driver got out and attacked him too. He was outside the Sphinx pastizzeria and Camilleri attacked him. He knocked him down and he got dizzy. Then he managed to get inside and locked the door. The witness later went to the polyclinic.
Driver attacked eyewitness
12.13pm An eyewitness was getting petrol when he suddenly saw the car heading from the right and smashing into KFC. He didn’t realize that a person had been hit. The driver went up to the eyewitness and attacked him. The court orders media not to publish the names of these eyewitnesses yet. They are still to testify, the inspector informs the court.
Pelin was walking to meet boyfriend
12.11pm On the road there was a jacket, a mobile phone and a Marlboro packet of cigarettes, belonging to the victim. Police looked for eyewitnesses to understand exactly what had happened.
The victim was identified by her boyfriend. He had travelled to Malta a few hours earlier to be here on her birthday. As he approached to meet her, he came across police and first responders. He told them that he was to meet his girlfriend. He called her number and the mobile found on the road rang.
Pelin Kaya, 30, died after she was hit by the BMW. Photo: FacebookWhite sneakers
12.07pm Zahra got there in 20 minutes, at around 1.20am. The crime scene was closed off with police tape. A black BMW S6 was stuck, front part, in the KFC outlet. It was over the railing, and there was stone debris.
In fact, Zahra said the incident actually happened on Msida Road, Gzira, not Testaferrata Street.
He also noticed white sneakers, belonging to the victim, who was not identified.
Driver 'threw stones at victim'
12.04pm Zahra continues. He says the incident happened around 1am. The driver got out of his car, and began to throw stones at passers-by and the victim, Zahra tells the court.
The woman was unconscious and in imminent danger. The aggressor was arrested by police RIU officers on site.
Inspector takes the stand
12.04pm Inspector Kurt Zahra is first to take the stand. On January 18 at around 1.50am, he got a call from the police control room about an incident at Testaferrata Street. A vehicle drove into a petrol station and a KFC outlet. A woman was hit and in danger of dying.
The BMW driven by Jeremie Camilleri smashed into a KFC on Testaferrata Street. Photo: Giulia MagriInterpreters for defence
11.59am The magistrate asks the accused whether he understands Maltese. He says that he understands it but does not speak the language. He understands and speaks English “perfectly”. In light of that information, the proceedings will be held in Maltese but he will be assisted by an interpreter to translate to English. Camilleri is French-Maltese. You can read our profile on him here.
There will also be interpreters for the family.
Defendant arrives
11.57am Jeremie Camilleri enters the hall, wearing a black jacket, a white shirt and a black tie.
Inspector Zahra explains the reason for the delay in the defendant arriving. As there are quite a number of people outside the hall, there were security issues.
Jeremie Camilleri arriving for his arraignment. Photo: Chris Sant FournierMagistrate enters
11.55am Magistrate Rachel Montebello arrives in the courtroom and the sitting begins. There's an issue, however. The court doesn't want people standing up unless they are lawyers or interpreters. And this medium-sized hall, with just four rows of seating, is packed.
Who's who
11.46am Attorney General lawyers Nathaniel Falzon and Kaylie Bonnett prosecuting, assisting inspectors Kurt Zahra and Shamus Woods.
The victim's family is represented by lawyers Shazoo Ghaznavi, Charlon Gouder and Ramona Attard.
Defendant Jeremie Camilleri is being represented by lawyers Alfred Abela and Rene Darmanin.
The magistrate hearing proceedings is Rachel Montebello.
Packed court
11.43am We're in hall 10 of the courthouse in Valletta and it's packed with people. There are two full rows of relatives, who have travelled over from Turkey, and people standing at the back.
Pelin Kaya's family applauded as they arrive at court
11.35am The family of the Turkish woman killed as she walked along a road on her birthday has arrived in court. Her mother, Çiçek Kaya, and other relatives are wearing pictures of the victim pinned to their clothes. They were applauded as they arrived in court.
Pelin's mother Çiçek Kaya, centre, arrives in court. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli