Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1547522
2 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 11 NOVEMBER 2026 NEWS CONTINUES FROM PAGE 1 According to the prosecution, Lopez Ceron distributed ecstasy pills to his wife and their friends. His wife subsequently fell ill and died from an ecstasy overdose. Defence sought drug court intervention During a sitting on 29 Septem- ber 2025, the defence request- ed that the court assume the functions of a Court Regard- ing Drugs under Article 8 of the Drug Dependence (Treat- ment not Imprisonment) Act. It sought permission to present evidence establishing whether Lopez Ceron had suffered from drug dependency at the time of the incident. The court granted the request to produce evidence and ap- pointed a forensic psychologist to assess the accused. However, the psychologist's findings did not establish the dependency required by law. Lopez Ceron told the psycholo- gist he had occasionally used cannabis while living in Colom- bia, primarily in social settings. He also maintained that he had first consumed ecstasy on the night of the incident which led to his wife's death. He denied regularly consuming ecstasy or developing a dependency on the substance. The psychologist concluded that he did not meet the diag- nostic criteria for a severe sub- stance-related disorder under the DSM-5, either when the al- leged offences occurred or dur- ing his subsequent assessment. Although there was evidence of occasional drug consumption, there were no clear indications of chronic dependency, persis- tent loss of control over sub- stance use or symptoms consist- ent with a severe substance-use disorder. The psychological assessment also highlighted the profound emotional impact of his wife's death. Lopez Ceron experienced significant grief and difficulties adjusting to life following the incident, occasionally turning to cannabis as a means of coping with his emotional distress. Nevertheless, he had main- tained relatively stable personal and professional circumstances, including steady employment, community involvement and supportive relationships. The psychologist also noted that he had voluntarily sought therapeutic assistance. These factors suggested favourable prospects for rehabilitation and continued reintegration into the community. However, the magistrate ex- plained that Article 8 requires the alleged offence to be sub- stantially attributable to proven drug dependency, rather than occasional consumption. Despite the positive findings concerning his rehabilitation prospects, Lopez Ceron did not satisfy the necessary legal re- quirements. Magistrate urges lawmakers to address legal gap In her decree, Magistrate Car- oline Farrugia Frendo acknowl- edged the exceptional circum- stances surrounding the case, describing it as particularly un- fortunate. Although recognising the gen- uine hardship involved, the mag- istrate stressed that the court could not disregard the con- ditions established by law. She argued that legislation intended to combat drug addiction and offer offenders a second chance should also address situations such as these, where isolated drug misuse can have devastat- ing consequences without in- volving established dependency. The court had no choice but to reject the accused's request to have his case considered un- der the special drug court provi- sions. The magistrate urged legisla- tors to introduce more compas- sionate provisions to address this legal gap, stressing that the existing framework prevented the court from extending the benefit to Lopez Ceron. It ordered that a copy of the decree be forwarded to the Commissioner for Justice for consideration of the legislative proposal. Defence lawyer Professor Ste- fano Filletti appeared for Lopez Ceron. Magistrate Caroline Farrugia Frendo is presiding over the case. Magistrate urges lawmakers to reform Malta's drug legislation Ecstasy pills (File photo) PN: More than three years on, Budget leaves animal hospital shut MORE than three years after the government shut the animal hos- pital, Budget 2027 has left its fu- ture unresolved, the PN said. "What tangible results will fish- ers, farmers, livestock breeders and those who love or work with animals see from this Budget?" the PN asked in a statement signed by PN spokesperson Janice Abela Chetcuti, Toni Bezzina and An- drew Agius. They said the Budget had failed to reassure farmers, livestock breeders and fishers that the government was safeguard- ing their livelihoods. The PN said the hospital, which opened under a Nationalist government, remained closed. "Students en- rolled in courses related to veteri- nary services have been turning to small private clinics for practical training, and they would now have to find placements abroad." The party said the hospital's clo- sure had also distressed pet own- ers and blamed the lack of hospital care for the loss of pets. The PN questioned how the gov- ernment allocated animal welfare funds, saying the process lacked transparency. It said the Budget had failed to address problems at sanctuaries, whose operators give their time and spend substan- tial amounts of their own money caring for animals. On agricul- ture, the PN said land and water shortages threatened the sector's future. It said some farmers still lacked access to New Water and that the Pitkalija vegetable mar- ket, which it described as essential to the country's food supply, still needed investment after years of government promises. The party also called for substantial invest- ment in a food security strategy. On fisheries, the PN asked how many fishers had received fund- ing to invest in their vessels. It said the sector needed better in- frastructure and pointed to the Marsalforn breakwater, which it said the government had prom- ised for years but failed to deliver. The party said the Budget set out no plan to encourage more young people to enter farming or fishing, both of which it described as es- sential to the country's food sup- ply. It called on the government to give both sectors greater priority and provide the support needed to ensure pets and farm animals receive care when they need it. JULIANA ZAMMIT jzammit@mediatoday.com.mt During a Nationalist Party press conference addressed by spokesperson Toni Bezzina, Janice Abela Chetcuti and Andrew Agius, the speakers said that this Budget had failed to reassure farmers, fishermen and livestock breeders that the Government was safeguarding their sector