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maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 11 JUNE 2014 News 4 CHRIS MANGION LISA May Camilleri, the mother who pushed her daughter Leanne into alleging in court that she was de- filed by her father, was placed under a bill of indictment, with the court hearing Inspector Sandro Camilleri saying that the only two times the mother visited her ailing son at the Rainbow Ward, police officers had to be brought in to escort her out. Inspector Camilleri was giving evidence in the case that sees Lisa May Camilleri accused of perjur- ing herself in court when her former husband Emmanuel Camilleri was charged with, and jailed for allegedly defiling their daughter. The Constitutional Court last week granted Camilleri a temporary re- lease from detention. The inspector recounted the shocking story which he was told by the staff at Rainbow Ward, were the minor Luke Camilleri, who has since died, was recovering. The ward staff said that the child's father vis- ited every day together with his other children, however the mother only went to the ward twice. "I was told those were the only two times in the ward's history that the police were called to escort a visitor out", the witness said. Speaking to Luke Camilleri, the officer learnt that the children were made to sleep in the street while their mother took in other men. There were 18 instances when the children ran away and the mother filed police reports over this. Chaos had erupted during the boy's funeral, when the daughter went to kiss her father and apologise for her previous behaviour. The inspector had then called Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera, who issued a warrant of arrest for the daughter. "After minutes in the police lock- up, the girl told the police that she had lied under oath and that her fa- ther had neither raped nor defiled her. "We cautioned her but she recon- firmed her story and insisted that the mother would push her children and tell them how to testify against her estranged husband. "The magistrate was informed of all this and Leanne Camilleri was questioned under oath, as part of the magisterial inquiry," Inspector Camilleri explained. Based on the daughter's words, the court ordered the mother's arrest. "When my men went to arrest her, they informed me that the woman was inside her residence but failed to open the door. "The magistrate wanted her ar- rested at all costs – even if it meant breaking the door down. How- ever Camilleri's partner eventually opened the door. After moments of hostility between the woman, her partner and the police, Lisa May Camilleri was taken to the police lock-up." Lisa May Camilleri told investi- gators that the daughter's tale was another lie. She also denied filing police reports about her children, denying making the 18 police re- ports filed when her children ran away. Lawyer Tonio Azzopardi, counsel for Emmanuel Camilleri, asked the witness to update the court about what transpired following the con- clusion of the inquiry. However, defence lawyer Martin Fenech ob- jected, saying, "I will not permit a retrial. I won't allow a lawyer to hi- jack my client". Fenech claimed that such questions were not relevant to the case. Azzopardi retorted that he would not permit another lawyer to voice such allegations against him. The court ruled that the question was marginal, and allowed the wit- ness to answer. Inspector Camilleri said that following fresh evidence, the Constitutional Court presided by Mr Justice J.R. Azzopardi issued a temporary release order for Em- manuel Camilleri. In his submissions, prior to the court ruling on prima facie evi- dence, Fenech quoted the Criminal Code, saying, "a confession can only be evidence against the person who makes it". Based on this, the evi- dence given by Leanne could not be used as evidence against the mother at prima facie stage. Moreover, the evidence of witness- es such as Peppi Azzopardi, Fr Hi- lary Tagliaferro and medical staff, who gave evidence during the in- quiry, was based on hearsay and not direct evidence. This means there was no prima facie evidence against the accused. "Peppi Azzopardi breached all constitutional rights by making the girl make statements on television. All this evidence should be thrown out. The court should consider the proces verbal without the daughter's version. "The court cannot place the mother under a bill of indictment. The court should instead drop the charges and close the case against my client, once and for all," he said. Azzopardi submitted that in the criminal proceedings against Em- manuel Camilleri, the evidence was exactly the same, until the inquiry. "What changed were the acts of the inquiry, which showed that evi- dence given by the daughter was her mother's fabrication." The guilt in the criminal pro- ceedings will now be seen under a new light, based on the girl's new evidence. The court is faced with enough evidence to conclude that the prosecution has sustained a pri- ma facie case against the accused. "The inquiry has presented the court with legally acquired evidence. The defence is confusing various concepts of law. The evidence given by the girl changed everything. "The accused was given the same opportunity during the inquiry, but she kept denying the facts. Leanne Camilleri did not simply say she lied, she claimed it was the mother who made her do this," Azzopardi concluded. Magistrate Ian Farrugia ruled there is enough evidence to put Lisa May Camilleri under a bill of indict- ment. He denied bail to the accused Lisa May Camilleri, arguing the charges are very serious and fearing that evi- dence could be tainted. The case continues on 23 July. Mother charged with perjury, placed under bill of indictment re you a researcher, an innovator or an innovative firm willing to undertake research? Would you be interested in commercialising your idea? Do you know that there are funds available just for this? The Malta Council for Science and Technology is inviting you to the launch of FUSION: The Research & Innovation Programme. FUSION, the R&I Programme, is a funding programme which supports local research and innovation with the ultimate aim of turning innovative ideas into a market ready reality. This fund is financed by the Government of Malta and is managed by the Malta Council for Science and Technology. FUSION will support locally funded research and instil a research and innovation culture within the Maltese economy with the potential of generating knowledge-driven and value- added growth and sustain improvements in the quality of life. The event, will be held Thursday, 12 June, 2014 at 12:30 pm at Le Méridien St Julians Hotel and Spa. For registration contact Debbie Pavia on debbie@businessleadersmalta.com. A Villa Bighi, Kalkara KKR1320, Malta Tel: +356 21 660340 - info@mcst.gov.mt mcst.gov.mt Untitled-3 1 30/05/2014 14:55 Court indicts mother charged with lying under oath and forcing her daughter to claim her father had defiled her Speaking to Luke Camilleri, the officer learnt that the children were made to sleep in the street while their mother took in other men