Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/874823
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 17 SEPTEMBER 2017 4 News MATTHEW VELLA THE Gozo police are still investigating what is believed to have been an accidental overdose that led to the untimely death of a troubled 15-year- old. The headlines and stories that reported Jessica Zahra's sudden death in early July carried little details, except for the outpouring of grief on so- cial media for the teen and her family. News websites like Newsbook and Net reported on the shock and upset at the death of the Zebbug girl among Gozitan friends and the community at large. But since her death, a police inquiry has yet to conclude the case, with investigating officers having also pored over the girl's online history as well as hints of her troubles found in school es- says. A source privy to the inquiry told this newspa- per that Zahra's death resulted from an acciden- tal overdose, possibly compounded by an incor- rect diagnosis that took place before the girl was rushed to hospital. Behind the grief and incredulity that followed her death, was the story of a difficult blossoming into teenage life. Police saw mobile phone photos snapped by the girl which she would send to friends, while grounded at home, punished by her parents for some usual transgression. In yet another typical act of rebellion, Zahra would have ditched her usual group of friends to instead go to Malta's Isle of MTV spectacular in Floriana with a different set of friends, unbe- known to her parents. Such episodes may have coloured a difficult re- lationship with her parents, who have three other children. "Some of the disciplining could have been heavy-handed," the source told this newspaper. "The girl would be grounded and locked in her room or the washroom. It was a case of grow- ing pains, and a typical episode where concerned parents are trying to set their children straight." After having angered her parents by joining an unknown group of friends for the 27th June MTV concert down in Floriana, Zahra was grounded yet again. "We think that in a fit of rebellion, she took an overdose of paracetamol pills while in her bed- room. The incident provoked a bout of vomiting, which led her parents to call their doctor. Believ- ing this was just a case of gastric flu, the girl could have been administered further medication. "When she awoke the day after, she was uncon- scious. She was rushed to hospital, but was pro- nounced dead soon after from liver and kidney failure," the source privy to the inquiry said. In the reports on her tragic death, Zahra was described as a girl who gave courage to others, always had a smile on her face and, according to a friend who spoke to Newsbook.com, "would make others happy with her presence." Zahra was the third of four siblings, and en- joyed dancing and the village festa, while having had aspirations of one day becoming an archi- tect. Accidental overdose suspected in Gozo teen's untimely death Jessica Zahra: news reports of her untimely death said the Gozitan community was shocked at the news Konrad Mizzi threatens unions with airline's break-up CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Declaring insolvency for Air Malta would release the govern- ment from restrictive conditions imposed by the European Com- mission when it green-lit a €260 million state funding tranche back in 2012. It would also mean a new nation- al airline would be created from the ground up with a smaller staff complement. Yesterday, cabin crew reps met to discuss new industrial action in a bid to force the beleaguered air- line to accept their demands on a new collective agreement. Sources said the union would be claiming it has issues on roster- ing, but cabin crew demands are related to pay increases and the dismissal of some part-time staff. Eight part-time cabin crew mem- bers were recently let go by Air Malta, with the UCC now insist- ing they be reinstated. Air Malta has apparently not dis- missed the possibility out of hand, only telling the union that it will take the matter under advisement, while it carries out a feasibility ex- ercise on staffing. That decision does not seem to have gone down well with the un- ion, which called a meeting yester- day in a prelude for industrial ac- tion that will bring more pressure to bear on the company. AIR MALTA 'MAKE OR BREAK' MEETING "If unions don't understand they need to work with us while we implement changes to make the airline profitable, we might have no other option but to close the company down completely and re-open with new staff" Air Malta unions ready to strike for better pay in new collective agreements