Life sentence: disappointment and sadness

/in /by

Reference is herby made by Mid-Dlam ghad-Dawl to the sentence awarded today by Judge Joseph Galea Debono at the end of the trial by jury of the Republic against Ibrahim Shnishah. The sentence given was life imprisonment, which is imprisonment unto death.

Mid-Dlam ghad-Dawl is extremely disappointed and saddened by this severe decision, especially after considering the circumstances in which Mr. Shnishah was found guilty last Friday, that is with 6 votes against 3 after six and a half hours of deliberation.

While Mid-Dlam ghad-Dawl would like to think that our Courts have the will to start approaching acceptable European standards when handing down judgement, it is doubtful whether this is what is happening. It is Mid-Dlam ghad-Dawl’s fear that, amongst European countries, with such sentencesMaltamay appear to be truly anachronistic.

While recognising the gravity of the case in question, Mid-Dlam ghad-Dawl again affirms that imprisonment unto death is inhuman and unjust.