Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1537311
2 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 9 JULY 2025 NEWS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 The jury last week unanimously found Muka guilty on all counts, including the wilful homicide of both victims, theft ag- gravated by murder, unlawful possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, carrying an unlicensed weapon, conspiracy to commit a crime, and vol- untary damage to property, among other charges. Meanwhile, Viktor Dragomanski was found not guilty of wilful homicide by a 6-3 vote. The jury found him guilty of theft aggravated by homicide, and unani- mously found him guilty of the illegal use of a number plate. The verdict means that Dragomanski might also be sentenced to life in prison as theft aggravated by hom- icide carries a maximum of life in prison. The pair had both pleaded not guilty to the charges. The murders sent shockwaves across the island. Pandolfino, a well-known art collector and entrepreneur, and Macie- jowski, a British national and art dealer, were found dead at their Locker Street home on the night of 18 August 2020. In- vestigators described the attack as delib- erate and targeted. In court, the prosecution argued that the killings occurred during an attempted robbery gone wrong. Jesper Kristiansen, a Danish national, previously admitted to his role and is now serving a 40-year sen- tence after a plea bargain. Kristiansen became a key witness for the prosecution, testifying that Muka was the ringleader who had pressured him in- to participating. The trio had planned to rob Pandolfino, whom they believed kept large sums of cash and valuables inside his home. Presided over by Madam Justice Nata- sha Galea Sciberras, the trial spanned 12 days and heard testimony from forensic experts, investigators, and Kristiansen himself. The jury also watched hours of CCTV footage showing the masked assailants entering and exiting the Sliema property. Throughout the proceedings, Muka appeared disengaged, often connecting remotely from prison, refusing to testify, and even declining legal representation throughout the whole trial. Despite be- ing assigned legal aid, Muka ultimately refused any assistance during final sub- missions. Dragomanski, meanwhile, maintained that he had no involvement in the plan- ning or execution of the robbery or kill- ings. Attorney General lawyers Maria Franc- esca Spiteri and Kevin Valletta prosecut- ed. Daniel Muka was represented by legal aid lawyer Josette Sultana and briefly by lawyer Mario Mifsud. Lawyers José Her- rera and Alex Scerri Herrera represented Viktor Dragomanski. Lawyers Joe Giglio and Michaela Giglio appeared parte civile for the families of the victims. Muka's sentence includes a total of six terms of solitary confinement Sliema Council opposes fuel station expansion onto promenade THE Sliema Local Council has object- ed to a proposed redevelopment of the Speedy Petrol Station on Triq it-Tor- ri, warning that the application would result in the loss of public open space, the removal of protected trees, and will have a negative impact on residential amenity and nearby heritage sites. The planning application, submitted by Sliema Service Station Ltd, seeks to demolish existing structures and re- place them with a revamped fuel station featuring an ancillary shop or office, a canopy fitted with photovoltaic panels, and underground fuel tanks requiring excavation. While the proposal follows an earlier permit approved in 2020 but never im- plemented, the new plans deviate from it by extending further into the public promenade and removing a row of ma- ture trees behind the site — an area not affected by the previous permit. The site lies adjacent to the busy Sliema promenade along the popular coastal walkway connecting Sliema and St Julian's. It is designated as public open space under Policy NHRL01 of the North Harbour Local Plan and lies in close proximity to two scheduled sites, including the Carmelite convent gar- den. In an objection submitted by lawyer Claire Bonello, the council warned that the development would encroach onto the paved public promenade and a lay- by, breaching policies that prohibit the loss of urban public open spaces. The objection also highlights that sev- eral mature palm trees scheduled for removal are protected under the 2018 Trees and Woodlands Regulations, which safeguard trees in urban open spaces. Their removal, the council ar- gues, would degrade the area's environ- mental quality and harm biodiversity. The council also expressed concern that traffic generated by the redevel- oped fuel station would intensify con- gestion and increase emissions in a high-density residential area. The in- clusion of a shop and office, the council argued, amounts to an unjustified in- tensification of use in a residential area. The council also pointed out that the Carmelite convent is just 40 metres away, while the Carmelite church lies between 70 and 110 metres from the station. According to the 2020 Fuel Sta- tion Policy, new or redeveloped stations are not permitted within 150 metres of a church — a condition breached by the proposal. Finally, the council questioned wheth- er the fuel station can still be considered "existing" under the Fuel Station Policy, given that it has been inactive for sev- eral years. It argued that in the absence of ongoing activity, the new application should be assessed as a fresh develop- ment — and rejected accordingly. The Sliema Local Council has regis- tered as an interested third party and called on the Planning Authority to re- fuse the application. The Superintendence for Cultural Heritage has also expressed concern re- garding the potential visual impact on views from and towards the Carmelite convent and has asked for photomon- tages to assess the impact. JAMES DEBONO jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt Photo by James Bianchi/MaltaToday Photo by James Bianchi/MaltaToday