Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1535788
4 NEWS 4 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 28 MAY 2025 MATTHEW FARRUGIA mfarrugia@mediatoday.com.mt Motorcyclist dies in St Paul's Bay bypass accident 35-year-old Shaun Coppola from Qormi identified as victim of St Paul's Bay bypass traffic fatality A motorcyclist has died fol- lowing an accident in the St Paul's Bay bypass. The victim has since been identified as 35-year-old Shaun Coppola from Qormi. The accident led to the clo- sure of both the north-bound and south-bound lanes of the bypass. Transport Malta urged commuters to avoid the area and use alternative roads. According to the police, the motorcyclist lost control of his Suzuki motorcycle and crashed into the barriers that separate the north-bound lanes from the south-bound lanes. A medical team was on site but the vic- tim was certified dead on site. It is understood that the victim died on im- pact following a violent col- lision, as his body was found quite some dis- tance. Magistrate Ian Far- rugia has launched an in- quiry, as police investigations are still ongoing. The victim sustained fatal injuries as the motorcycle kept driving forward (Photo: James Bianchi/MaltaToday) A parish priest who had defiled a sacris- tan's 15-year-old niece had his prison sen- tence reduced to 20 months following an appeal. The events occurred on 16 June 2017 and the priest was initially charged with defil- ing the minor and engaging in sexual ac- tivities with her. He was found guilty last March and was given a three-year and six- month imprisonment term. The priest appealed the decision. It was heard that the relationship be- tween the minor and the convicted man had evolved after the 15-year-old girl had kissed him on the lips and at first, the priest happily engaged in the act. When the accused was arraigned in 2020, the court heard that their "relationship" had been going on for four years before she reported him. At the time, the defence and prosecution agreed that the girl wanted the parish priest to impregnate her and leave the church, as she further blackmailed him to keep the relationship going. However, the priest later attempted to stop the relationship but the girl threat- ened him not to do so and ended up report- ing him to the police. The priest admitted to engaging in indecent sexual activities with the girl. However, the proof brought forward did not sufficiently establish that sexual intercourse had actually occurred between the pair. In his ruling, Judge Neville Camilleri said that the relationship was consensual and the priest had done his part to try and end the illicit relationship. Despite this, Judge Camilleri could not ignore the fact that the parish priest be- trayed society's faith in priesthood and the catholic church. Thus, he was only found guilty of defiling the girl and the punishment was reduced to 20 months. The Archdiocese of Malta published a statement expressing "profound sadness and regret" that a diocesan priest was found guilty on appeal of breaching sexual boundaries with a 15-year-old girl. "The Archdiocese apologises unreserv- edly to the victim for the actions of one of its clergymen, and wishes to make clear that it had already referred this case to the Holy See. The Vatican determined that the priest, who cannot be named by order of the court, should be restricted from under- taking his ministry." It thanked the Church's Safeguarding Commission for handling the case and supporting the victim in coming forward and reporting the abuse to the police. "This case is a clear reminder that safeguarding mechanisms can be effective. The Church's Safeguarding Commission encourages an- yone who feels unsafe or who witnesses inappropriate behaviour, especially within environments where there is an imbalance of power, to speak up." The Archdiocese will also offer counsel- ling and emotional support services to the priest concerned. The priest admitted to engaging in indecent sexual activities with the girl (File photo) Parish priest who defiled sacristan's 15-year- old niece has jail term reduced to 20 months MAYA GALEA mgalea@mediatoday.com.mt