A Tunisian immigrant was yesterday jailed for 28 years after he pleaded guilty to killing another immigrant, also a Tunisian, at the Safi detention centre on 31 August 2004.

Hammadi Ben Abdallah Rumdani, 46, was due to face a trial by jury yesterday morning, but filed a guilty plea to the murder of Mohsen Ben Khediri Ben Ali before the panel was convened.

The court heard how on 31 August 2004, a fight broke out between the two men at the Safi detention centre. Abdallah Rumdani hit Mr Ali several times in various parts of his body with a bar of metal taken from the headboard of a bed.

Mr Ali suffered serious injuries to his head, including a crushed skull, and died soon after.

In handing down judgment, the court, presided over by Mr Justice Joseph Galea Debono, said that on 21 February, the accused and the prosecution had both filed an application saying that both parties had agreed on a punishment of 28 years in the event of a guilty plea being filed.

The court took note that Abdallah Rumdani had decided to enter a guilty plea on 22 February and had confirmed his intentions in court yesterday.

In his judgment, Mr Justice Galea Debono said the court took into account the early guilty plea filed by the accused, his police record while in Malta and other circumstances. The court concluded that the imposition of a prison term as agreed upon by both parties is satisfactory.

The court therefore sentenced the accused to 28 years in jail and ordered that all time spent in preventive custody in connection to the case be deducted from the jail term.

Abdallah Rumdani was also ordered to pay Lm798.40 in court expenses.

Deputy Attorney General Anthony Barbara prosecuted while Dr Joe Mifsud appeared for Abdallah Rumdani.