.png)
Updated | Malian migrant died following severe blow to groin, but accused had 31 bite marks
Excruciating pain caused by “blunt trauma” to groin, caused almost instant death to Malian migrant Mamadou Kamara, expert claims.
20 September 2012, 12:00am
Karl Stagno-Navarra
Karl Stagno-Navarra
2 min read
Mamadou Kamara died while in custody of Detention Services Unit personnel.
Adds evidence by court appointed dental expert
Forensic expert Mario Scerri, who conducted a detailed analysis on the corpse of a Malian migrant who died at the hands of Armed Forces and Detention Services Unit personnel on 30 June, told a court this morning that the victim died of what he described as blunt trauma to the renal triangle.
Armed Forces sergeant Mark Anthony Dimech, 44 of Gzira and Gunner Clive Cuschieri, 29 of Paola are pleading not guilty to the wilful murder of Malian migrant Mamadou Kamara, 32 in a detention services van on 30 June.
Dimech and Cuschieri are currently on bail after paying a deposit of €9,000 each and making a personal guarantee of €30,000 each.
Giving evidence before Magistrate Saviour Demicoli this morning, Mario Scerri said that although no external bruising was found on Kamara's corpse, he discovered haematoma in the victim's testicles, and the renal triangle.
According to Scerri, Malian migrant Mamadou Kamara, 32 died instantly following the blunt trauma he sustained, which triggered a vasovagal attack, a disorder that causes a rapid drop in heart rate and blood pressure, resulting in decreased blood flow to the brain and fainting.
He explained that the severe pain the victim suffered as a consequence of the blow, caused a cardiac arrest. "Unless treated immediately and aggressively, a vasovagal attack is fatal," the expert said, adding that pathologist Ali Safraz also discovered the same haematoma.
Scerri added that while examining Sergeant Dimech, he found the accused to have minor abrasions and what looked like a human bite to his forearm.
Another witness, dental expert Hector Galea, told the court that that one of the accused, Clive Cuschieri wasw found to have a total of 31 bite marks caused by the victim, while another eight bite marks were found on Dimech.
Galea also said that the victim had bite marks on his lips.
Kamara had a number of bite marks caused by Cuschieri on his face. One was on the lower lip.
Meanwhile, Detention Officer Mark Cuschieri confirmed that he heard Sergeant Mark Anthony Dimech say "he bit me so I beat him".
•
So Gunner Clive Cuschieri had 31 bites on his body, Dimech had (one or eight?) bitemarks, and Mamadou Kamara was tied up, died from kicks to the groin and had a number of bite marks on the face? Something tells me we haven't heard the full story here. Did the deceased bite himself in the face? How is a soldier bitten 31 times while arresting a suspect together with two colleagues?
