Former AFM soldier on trial for racially motivated murder and shootings in Birżebbuġa
Lorin Scicluna, 29, faces eight charges including the murder of Ivorian national Lassana Cisse Souleymane in April 2019. The prosecution alleges racial hatred motivated the attacks.
Ex-soldier accused of drive-by killing of Ivorian migrant appears before jury in Birżebbuġa case
A jury trial opened on Monday against a former Armed Forces of Malta soldier charged with murdering an Ivorian national and attempting to kill three other migrants in separate racially motivated incidents in Birżebbuġa in 2019, maltatoday.com.mt reports.
Lorin Scicluna, 29, born in Żabbar and residing in Paola, stands trial seven years after the killing of Lassana Cisse Souleymane, who was shot in the head along Triq il-Ġebel on 6 April 2019 and died at the scene. He is also charged in connection with the shootings of Mohammed Jallow, from The Gambia, and Ibrahim Bah, from Guinea, as well as a separate alleged hit-and-run involving May Malimi, a national of Chad.
The trial is being presided over by Judge Natasha Galea Sciberras. Jurors were selected on Monday morning.
Eight charges, including voluntary homicide
Scicluna faces eight principal charges: the voluntary homicide of Souleymane, the attempted murders of Jallow, Bah and Malimi, grievous bodily harm to Jallow and Malimi, slight bodily harm to Bah, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime. The prosecution maintains that the attacks were motivated, wholly or partly, by racial hatred.
According to the bill of indictment, Scicluna was serving as a soldier with the Armed Forces of Malta at the time of the alleged offences. He also worked part-time at a pastizzeria in Attard and was on duty there on the day of the fatal shooting.
The night of 6 April 2019
The prosecution alleges that Francesco Fenech, a friend of Scicluna who faces separate criminal proceedings, regularly visited him at the pastizzeria while he worked. On 6 April 2019, after Scicluna finished his shift, the two men allegedly decided to drive towards Ħal Far with the intention of finding people of dark skin colour and shooting at them.
Prosecutors claim the plan was rooted in the men's hostility towards the presence of people of dark skin colour in Malta. The two allegedly went to Scicluna's garage in Paola, removed the registration plates from his Toyota Starlet — registration number CCL 159 — armed themselves with a firearm, and drove towards Ħal Far. According to the indictment, they were familiar with the area and knew it was frequented by migrants, having visited it together on previous occasions.
Shortly before 11pm, at around 10.50pm, Scicluna and Fenech allegedly arrived in Triq il-Ġebel, within the limits of Ħal Far. As they drove downhill towards Birżebbuġa, they allegedly spotted Souleymane walking along the road.
The prosecution claims three shots were fired from the vehicle in his direction. One struck Souleymane in the head; the bullet penetrated his skull and lodged towards the back of his brain. He died at the scene. The firearm and ammunition allegedly used in the shooting were registered in Scicluna's name. Rather than stopping, the two men allegedly continued driving towards Birżebbuġa, intending to target more migrants.
Two more migrants shot returning from football
Later that same night, Mohammed Jallow and Ibrahim Bah were walking back to their accommodation in Ħal Far after watching a football match at an establishment in Birżebbuġa. The two friends were heading towards China House, where they were staying alongside other migrants, along Triq il-Ġebel.
According to the indictment, Scicluna and Fenech drove past them in the Toyota Starlet and fired four shots in their direction. Both men were struck. Jallow sustained serious injuries and was rushed to Mater Dei Hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery; the prosecution maintains he survived because of the timely medical intervention he received. Bah suffered a gunshot wound to his shoulder, amongst other injuries, none of which were considered life-threatening. The two accused allegedly drove away immediately after the shooting.
Separate alleged hit-and-run two months earlier
The jury will also hear allegations concerning a separate incident that took place approximately two months before the fatal shooting. On 1 February 2019, Scicluna and Fenech were allegedly driving along Triq il-Ġebel when they noticed a man of dark skin colour crossing the road. The two allegedly directed their vehicle towards the pedestrian and deliberately struck him before fleeing, leaving him seriously injured on the road.
The victim was subsequently identified as May Malimi, a national of Chad. Malimi was taken to Mater Dei Hospital, where he underwent surgery for his injuries. The prosecution alleges this too was a racially motivated attack.
The victim: a father of three described as a Good Samaritan
Lassana Cisse Souleymane was 42 years old at the time of his death and a father of three children. He was from the Ivory Coast and was known within his community as a Good Samaritan who helped other asylum-seekers upon their arrival in Malta. His mother had to wait more than three years for his remains to be repatriated; the body was finally laid to rest in July 2022.
Source: Times of Malta