Trial begins over 2019 killing of Lassana Cisse as prosecution alleges racial hatred
More than seven years after the killing of Ivorian national Lassana Cisse Souleymane, former Armed Forces of Malta soldier Lorin Scicluna has gone on trial, with prosecutors telling jurors that racial hatred was at the heart of the attacks.
The trial by jury of Lorin Scicluna, 29, began in Malta on Monday, 19 October, over the killing of Lassana Cisse Souleymane and attacks on three other African men in 2019.
Cisse, a 42-year-old Ivorian national, was shot in the head on 6 April 2019 while walking along Triq il-Ġebel, between Ħal Far and Birżebbuġa. He died at the scene.
Scicluna, who was serving with the Armed Forces of Malta at the time, has pleaded not guilty. He is also accused of attempting to murder Mohammed Jallow from The Gambia and Ibrahim Bah from Guinea, who were shot and injured on the same road that night, as well as May Malimi from Chad, who prosecutors allege was deliberately struck by a car approximately two months earlier.
During the prosecution’s opening address, lawyer Abigail Caruana Vella told jurors that the case involved four victims and argued that the violence could not be separated from the racial hatred that allegedly motivated it.
According to the prosecution, Scicluna and fellow former soldier Francesco Fenech travelled towards Ħal Far on the night of Cisse's killing intending to target Black people. Prosecutors allege that the registration plates were removed from Scicluna’s Toyota Starlet before the men headed towards an area they knew was frequented by migrants. Fenech is facing separate proceedings.
The jury heard that Cisse was walking alone and listening to music when the car approached. Prosecutors allege that three shots were fired from the vehicle after it followed him along the road. One bullet struck him in the head.
A short time later, Jallow and Bah, who were returning to their accommodation after watching a football match in Birżebbuġa, allegedly encountered the same vehicle. Four shots were fired towards them, according to the prosecution. Both men survived, although Jallow suffered serious injuries requiring emergency surgery.
Prosecutors are also linking the case to an incident on 1 February 2019 involving Malimi. They allege that a vehicle was deliberately driven towards him on the same road, leaving him seriously injured and requiring surgery.
Judge Natasha Galea Sciberras, who is presiding over the trial, reminded jurors that Scicluna is presumed innocent and that their verdict must be based exclusively on evidence presented in court, without prejudice or preconceived opinions.
The trial continues.
Comments