Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1524716
3 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 31 JULY 2024 NEWS MATTHEW AGIUS magius@mediatoday.com.mt WASTESERV CEO Richard Bilocca and five other officials have denied accusations of crim- inal responsibility for a fatal inci- dent at the company's incinerator in Marsa, two years ago. Bilocca, 39, from Zurrieq was charged by summons and not under arrest before Magistrate Gabriella Vella on Tuesday, to- gether with Health and Safety Manager Stefan Salamone, 42, engineer Ryan Mark Cachia, 35, from Tarxien, facility manager Ryan Cauchi, 32, from Mosta and Health and Safety Officers Silvan Borg, 51, from Marsaskala and Aylin Fleri, 32, from Valletta. All of the defendants entered not guilty pleas. The charges, which include involuntary homicide, relate to an incident at the Marsa Ther- mal Treatment Facility on May 10, 2022 that caused the death of 38-year-old Joseph Ellul from Marsaxlokk. Ellul had been found, dead, beside an elevator at the facility, with lacerations to his throat. A magisterial inquiry into the fatal incident had highlighted sig- nificant safety failings, amongst them the lack of safety features on the hatch to the lift where the incident occurred. Court experts appointed during the inquiry had established that Ellul died while attempting to inspect malfunc- tioning equipment by putting his head through the inspection hatch. In addition to the involun- tary homicide charges, Cachia, Cauchi, and Bilocca are also charged with refusing or failing to take the necessary precautions to prevent this type of incident from happening. When the arraignment began, the court noted that an appli- cation had been filed by the de- fence, in which it was objecting to the appointment of one of the inquiry experts. The magistrate gave the pros- ecution until 15 September to acquaint themselves with the re- quest and file their reply. The case was adjourned to 3 October. The Office of the Attorney General is being represented by lawyers Ramon Bonett Sladden and Sean G. Borg, assisting police Inspector Ian Vella who is pros- ecuting. Bilocca, Fleri, Salamone and Borg are being assisted by lawyers Stephen Tonna Lowell, Stefano Filletti and Maurice Meli. Law- yers Michael and Lucio Sciriha are representing Cachia, with lawyer Arthur Azzopardi appear- ing for Cauchi. The family of the victim is be- ing assisted by lawyers Franco Debono, Francesca Zarb and Adreana Zammit. Wasteserv officials deny involuntary homicide, negligence charges over 2022 fatality 38-year-old Joseph Ellul from Marsaxlokk. Ellul was found, dead, beside an elevator at the Marsa Thermal Treatment Facility, with lacerations to his throat A 35-year-old construction worker was remanded in custody on Tues- day, accused of sexually harassing and grievously injuring a female housemate with a knife. John Frances, a Nigerian nation- al residing in Marsaxlokk, was ar- raigned under arrest before Magis- trate Charmaine Galea, accused of aggravated grievous bodily harm, attempted grievous bodily harm with a knife and aggravated theft. He was also charged with having repeatedly harassed the woman over the past seven months, de- taining the woman against her will as a means to compel her to sub- mit to a sexually degrading act and causing his housemate to fear that violence would be used against her. A further charge, relating to the aggravated theft of a set of ear- phones from her house, was also pressed. No details about the incident emerged in court today, beyond what was specified in the charges. Frances, who told the court that he was a construction worker, pleaded not guilty. Bail was not requested. The court upheld the prosecu- tion's request for a protection order in favour of the alleged victim, who is not being identified in this report to avoid secondary victimisation. Police inspector Andrew Agius Bonello prosecuted, together with lawyers Jurgen Dalli and Valentina Cassar from the Office of the At- torney General. Court denies bail for construction worker accused of grievous harm and sexual harassment MATTHEW AGIUS magius@mediatoday.com.mt Man faces multiple charges after allegedly harassing and assaulting his female housemate with a knife