Judge testifies against Daniel Muka over alleged threats, insults during murder trial

Judge Natasha Galea Sciberras testified on Monday in proceedings against convicted murderer Daniel Muka, who is facing charges related to alleged threats and insults directed towards the judge while she was presiding over his trial by jury.

Last June, Muka was jailed for life after being found guilty of the fatal shootings of Chris Pandolfino and Ivor Maciejowski inside their Locker Street residence in Sliema in August 2020.

Pandolfino was found by police around one metre away from the property’s main entrance after sustaining five gunshot wounds, while Maciejowski was discovered further inside on a staircase with a fatal gunshot wound to the head.

Co-accused Jesper Kristiansen accepted a plea bargain and was sentenced to 40 years imprisonment, while Viktor Dragomanski was acquitted of murder but found guilty of theft aggravated by homicide.

During her testimony, Judge Galea Sciberras testified that Muka became “very irritated and angry” following the appointment of legal aid lawyer Josette Sultana. This came after lawyer Mario Mifsud renounced his role as defence counsel, stating that he could no longer effectively defend the accused since he had only been given three days to prepare the case.

Judge Galea Sciberras explained that in the final days leading up to the jury proceedings, Muka had engaged lawyer Mario Mifsud to assist in his defence. However, due to the limited time available to prepare the case, the defence filed several applications requesting that proceedings be postponed by approximately one week.

All requests for postponement were refused by the court. Lawyer Mario Mifsud thus abstained from defending Muka.

Muka had declared that he was refusing to participate in the hearing, citing concerns regarding his legal representation. Despite repeated instructions from the court to sit down and allow proceedings to continue, he remained defiant, insisting that he wanted lawyer Mario Mifsud to continue representing him. He claimed that his rights were being breached.

Judge Galea Sciberras testified that Muka repeatedly shouted that he did not want Sultana as his lawyer and began shouting loudly and clapping sarcastically in an apparent attempt to draw attention to the situation.

She further alleged that Muka directed remarks towards her including: “What were you paid under the table?” and “What did they pay you for this?”

Deputy registrar also testifies

Deputy Registrar Joyce Agius also testified during the proceedings. She recalled that she had begun reading the bill of indictment when lawyer Mario Mifsud declared in open court that he was renouncing his role as defence counsel, stating that he could no longer provide an effective defence under the circumstances imposed by the court.

The court then turned to legal aid lawyer Josette Sultana and instructed her to assume Muka’s legal representation, while Agius was simultaneously instructed to continue reading the indictment.

During cross-examination by lawyer Nicholas Mifsud, Agius reiterated that she could not definitively confirm whether the remarks had been aimed specifically at Judge Galea Sciberras or at someone else present inside the courtroom. She explained that she had been entirely focused on reading the bill of indictment and was not concentrating on the accused personally.

Agius also noted that several individuals were present at the time, including jurors, security personnel, court staff, correctional officers and members of the public.

At the end of Monday’s sitting, lawyer Nicholas Mifsud informed the court that the accused had allegedly been denied prison leave to undergo a dental implant procedure and had appeared in court with half of his face swollen. Mifsud requested the court to recommend that the accused be given the necessary medical attention immediately.

Inspector Keith Rizzo prosecuted while lawyer Nicholas Mifsud appeared for the accused. Magistrate Nadine Sant Lia presided over the hearing.

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