On 12 November 2001, Calleja, along with 34-year-old Mario Borg from Zebbug, Mark Falzon, aged 28, from Hamrun, and Ian Galdes, 23, from Qormi, held up the Qormi branch of Bank of Valletta and demanded the cashiers give them all the money available. They succeeded in stealing around Lm5,000 which was subsequently retrieved by police.

Constable Debattista was working overtime at the bank and as he tried to use his weapon to defend himself and the bank customers, Calleja shot him. This shot was not fatal, but Calleja pulled the trigger once more, delivering the blow that killed Mr Debattista.

Last Monday, just before the four accused were due to stand for trial by jury, they admitted the charges brought against them. Borg, Falzon and Galdes were not accused of complicity in the murder but simply of carrying out the hold-up with Calleja. Borg and Galdes were each sentenced to seven years in prison while Falzon was sentenced to five.

Calleja admitted killing the police officer during the hold-up. Despite this admission, presiding judge Mr Justice Joseph Galea Debono explained that he was not to be shown clemency. He only registered his admission last Monday, that is, almost three-and-a-half years after the crime was committed. The judge said “he delayed his plea until the final moment,” and therefore this could not be considered as an early guilty plea. Judge Galea Debono ruled that Calleja could not benefit from a reduced jail term and

sentenced him to life imprisonment.

The accused was described as “a menace to society” and Judge Galea Debono said he must be given the maximum sentence to protect the public. A man was killed while on duty because four young men wanted to “take the easy road to a bit of cash, ” the judge said.

Judge Galea Debono said Calleja had shown an element of remorse and had a troubled past. From 1995 to date, he had been convicted 10 times for crimes related to drugs and theft. He was also guilty of living off a minor prostitute’s earnings for a couple of years. His crimes had escalated and measures must be taken to protect society, said Judge Galea Debono.

While passing judgement, the judge gave a rundown of the crimes committed by the other men involved in this crime. Ian Galdes, a rehabilitated drug addict, had a history of drug possession along with a case of involuntary homicide. Borg had been convicted of fraud, drug possession and traffic offences and Falzon had committed various traffic offences. Falzon was the only man not accused of relapsing in view of previous convictions.

Judge Galea Debono explained that the accused’s use of drugs was not a valid excuse for the crime they committed.

“This was a tragic, deliberate and cruel crime motivated by money,” said the judge. He emphasised the severity of the crime. He reminded the court room that Mr Debattista was a family man who had been killed while doing his duty of protecting others.

Along with their prison sentences, the men were each fined Lm561 and the judge ordered the time Borg, Falzon and Galdes had spent in preventative custody to be deducted from their sentence.

Senior Counsel to the Republic Mark Said led the prosecution while Dr Michael Sciriha, Dr Giannella Caruana Curran, Dr Manwel Mallia, Dr Ian Farrugia and Dr Lyn Zahra appeared for the accused.