Prison convict says asylum seeker created unrest at detention centre

An Algerian prison convict testifying in the compilation of evidence against Lance Bombardier Clive Cuschieri, 29, and Sergeant Mark Anthony Dimech, 44, who face charges of murdering asylum seeker Mamadou Kamara while in custody of the Armed Forces, described the victim as a trouble-maker and had words of praise for his alleged murderer.

Avadi Madou, currently serving time at Corradino Correctional Facility, told the court that 32-year-old Mamadou Kamara had created unrest at the Safi Barracks when he stole food, harassed people and ripped up their clothes.

Magistrate Saviour Demicoli was hearing the compilation of evidence against the two AFM soldiers who stand charged with murdering Kamara, 32, causing him serious injury and committing a crime they were all duty bound to prevent.

Kamara was killed while AFM soldiers suppressed him while trying to evade them.

In court, Madou claimed that he had barely been at the Safi Barracks for five days after being released from prison, when the Malian asylum seeker started behaving "like a madman".

Staff from the Detention Services had taken Kamara to the polyclinic to get the necessary documentation to transfer him to Mount Carmel Hospital, but the medical staff confirmed that his mental state was stable, Madou claimed.

But warned by the prosecution to state only what he saw and not what he heard being said, the witness stated that the victim "acted like a madman and then calmed down when he returned from the polyclinic."

Interrupting the questions of Police Inspector Keith Arnaud, the witness recounted an incident where Mohammed entered the toilet while a Somali detainee was inside, leading to both men exchanging blows. Avadi smirked as he claimed that the two men "fought like women, scratching at each other."

Avadi then said that Sergeant Mark Dimech entered the fray to calm down the argument and made arrangements for the victim to be taken to the Hal-Far detention centre the following morning, to the protest of Malian compatriots.

Avadi said he had proposed to Dimech that Kamara spends the night in his cell, but that this was met with a death threat from the Malians inside the detention centre.

Then he said that as Kamara was being escorted by officers to be transferred to another detention centre, the Malian migrant head-butted a soldier and fled.

Prompted by the defence, the witness  described accused Sgt Dimech as a person who constantly tried to keep the atmosphere at the  detention centre calm. "Sgt Dmech entered the fray to calm down the unrest amongst us and told me not to fight with the victim, calm down and be patient," Avadi said.

The witness added that he owed his life to the AFM sergeant, who, he said had convinced him to leave the building he himself had set ablaze when he was detained there.

Another witness, police inspector Kevin Pulis, confirmed that he met Dimech at the Paola health centre where he was told how the victim had escaped detention and then apprehended. Pulis said the AFM sergeant had told him the migrant had resisted arrest and subsequently taken to the polyclinic, but that the soldiers had to secure him with handcuffs. Abdalla had stopped talking to them when they arrived at the polyclinic.

Lawyer Joe Gilio appeared for Mark Dimech and Rachael Tua appeared for Clive Cuschieri. The case will continue on 9 July.