Boy accused of stealing from parents, remanded in custody

A teenage heroin addict was yesterday accompanied to court by his tearful parents who had shopped him to the police for stealing items from their home and selling them on to fund his habit.

The 16-year-old, who cannot be named, was remanded in custody at the Corradino Correctional Facility Youth Section after pleading not guilty to stealing a wedding ring, two mobile phones, a DVD player and a Playstation and e1,000 in cash from his parents and grandmother.

Magistrate Antonio Micallef Trigona remanded the boy in custody on a request made by his parents who said they were trying everything possible to get their son back on the straight and narrow. The case continues on Monday.

‘Supplier told me not to take her to hospital’ – convicted witness

A man jailed for the murder of Rachel Bowdler by omission yesterday told a court that a drug dealer urged him not to take her to hospital for heroin overdose treatment due to fear of being arrested.

Jason Decelis, jailed for 25 years for his involvement in Rachel Bowdler’s death along with his mother, was testifying against David Gatt, 32, who is charged with murder for having supplied Bowdler with the drug which eventually led to her overdose. Decelis and his family had dumped the body in an area close to Golden Bay. His mother was jailed for 15 years and his father for one and a half years for the differing roles they played.

Decelis told the court that he had seen Bowdler, 18 at the time, at Gatt’s house on the day she died. She had gone there to buy heroin, which she paid for in kind by giving the dealer her mobile phone. Decelis told the court that Gatt had prepared the heroin for Rachel, which she then injected herself.

Later in the day, said Decelis, Bowdler had gone round to his house and fell asleep there. Recognising the symptoms of an overdose, he called Gatt who advised him to inject salt and water into her veins. When she still did not recover, Decelis claims he repeatedly phoned Gatt to ask him for advice. He claims that Gatt repeatedly told him not to take her to hospital for treatment as he feared they would be arrested. Late that night as Rachel’s breathing got shallower and shallower, Decelis and his mother went to Gatt’s house at about 11.30pm to discuss a plan of action. The accused urged them to wait it out till morning. They made contact again the next morning, Decelis said, after Rachel had died and Gatt told them to gather her personal belongings and to dump them, along with the body near Golden Bay. The case continues.

Dr Joe Brincat, Dr Jose Herrera and Dr Veronique Dalli appeared for the accused while inspectors Denis Theuma and Norbert Ciappara prosecuted.