The architect of the Seabank hotel, Reuben Gatt, was acquitted of charges of involuntary homicide following the death of a Latvian construction worker in 2012.

Mr Gatt was one of the seven initally charge with the involuntary homicide of 31-year-old Maksims Artamonovs, who was crushed to death when a newly constructed structure collapsed during hotel extension works at the Seabank hotel in Mellieha on 7 March 2012.

The court, which was presided over by Magistrate Donatella Frendo Dimech, ruled that there was not enough evidence to imply that Mr Gatt had any involvement with the death of Mr Artamonovs. 

Three directors of the Seabank hotel, including PN MP Francis Zammit Dimech, had also been acquitted by the court on 10 December 2015 after the court ruled that there was no prima facie evidence that could implicate them in the the death of Mr Artamonovs.

The other two directors are Arthur Gauci, 46, from Mellieha and Silvio Debono, 56, from Mellieha.

With regard to the other accused, Robert Sant, 52, from Balzan, Director of B&B Construction, Etienne Bartolo, 37, from Zebbug, architect Pierre Farrugia, 46, from Ta’ Xbiex, and Director of B&B Construction ltd Angelus Bartolo, 62, from Zebbug, the magistrate deemed that they is enough evidence to charge them with the involuntary homicide of Mr Artamonorvs.

Angelus Bartolo and Etienne Bartolo were represented by lawyers Paul Lia and Alessandro Lia, respectively.

Lawyer Joe Giglio was defence counsel to Reuben Gatt.