Police officer fined €4,000 for shooting colleague

Shawn Axiaq, a police constable, was fined  €4,000 for accidentally shooting a colleague during an exercise held without any authorisation at the abandoned White Rocks complex four years ago.

After returning from a course in law enforcement run by the US Naval Criminal Investigative Service, police sergeant Jonathan Ransley and five of his colleagues went to the derelict building in St Andrew's for him to show them his newly acquired skills.

The unauthorised exercise was held while the six officers were on their tour of duty. The three Mobile Squad units abandoned their routine patrols in their designated zones without authorisation. Ransley, formerly a sergeant, has since then been promoted to the rank of inspector.

Ransley showed his colleagues the ropes on how to handle, approach and disarm suspects. Unfortunately, the Glock handgun Axiaq was carrying went off hitting 41-year-old constable Peter Paul Sammut in the chest.

The shot went through the victim's body. Sammut was rushed to hospital were his injuries were found to be grievous but not critical.

The accused, who had only joined the force a few months before the incident,  was treated for severe shock.

Magistrate Edwina Grima ruled out this was a case of attempted murder, especially when taking into consideration the close friendship that exists between the victim and the accused.

While condemning the officers for not seeking authorisation, the court noted that the accused had been ordered not to load his weapon and not to pull the trigger.

Axiaq ignored both orders. Magistrate Grima fined the police officer €4,000. Inspector Chris Pullicino prosecuted while lawyer Caroline Farrugia appeared for the accused.

Dr Michael Tanti-Dougall and Dr Mario Calleja appeared as parte civile for Peter Paul Sammut.