Court claims Abner was ‘insane’ at time of Dembska murder

Jun 3 2022

A court has ruled that the man accused of raping and murdering Polish student Paulina Dembska was insane at the time of the crime.

In a short Friday hearing, the magistrate ruled on the basis of three psychiatrists that Abner was mentally unfit to stand jury at this stage.

This means that the Attorney General must decide whether or not to proceed with an insanity trial or continue the case. The issue of insanity would thus be decided alongside the rest of the case.

Aquilina has been charged with the rape and murder of 29-year-old Polish student Paulina Dembska. Her body was found in Sliema’s Independence Garden on January 2nd. Aquilina was admitted to Mount Carmel, wherein he told doctors he had demonic powers.

If the Attorney General decides to opt for an insanity trial, a specially appointed jury will be tasked with deciding on the sanity issue. If report findings are upheld, the case could be dismissed and the accused cleared on the grounds of insanity.

Aquilina would likely then be transferred to Mount Carmel Hospital under the Mental Healthcare Act. However, although the medical experts have reached a firm conclusion, the issue of legal insanity has to be decided in court.

Aquilina was deemed insane at the time of the murder because they acknowledged that he was facing delusions.

The date of the next hearing is set for July 15th.

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Three week isolation ordered for people with monkeypox

Jun 3 2022

Superintendent for Public Health Charmaine Gauci has issued new directives requiring people infected with monkeypox to isolate at home for 21 days.

The superintendent also specified that people with symptoms must also quarantine and seek medical advise, as cases of the virus increase across Europe.

Malta still has only one confirmed case of the virus, with the 38-year-old male patient having recently been abroad in a country hit by the outbreak. The mandatory 21 day isolation starts from the day the swab test is carried out.

Times of Malta was informed by Gauci that close contacts are not required to isolate as long as they do not show symptoms. Symptoms include fever, chills, headache, swollen glands, muscle aches, back pain, low energy and a rash that breaks out within one to three days.

A sample is taken from the rash lesions and sent to laboratories to test if it is monkeypox. The disease is also a statutory notifiable one in Malta, meaning that doctors are obliged to inform public health officials if they suspect or confirm a case.

The WHO says more than 550 monkeypox cases have been confirmed in 30 countries outside West African nations where it is endemic. The EMA is also in talks to extend the smallpox vaccine for monkeypox as it has been previously used.

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UK council to pay smokers £400 to quit smoking cigarettes

Jun 3 2022

A new UK pilot scheme has been proposed to pay smokers to quit lighting up cigarettes and abandon the habit for good.

After smoking rates stopped declining, with more than 10% of a council’s residents, including pregnant women, still smoking, Cheshire East Council took matters into their own hands.

The pilot will see people paid £200, with this doubled £400 for pregnant women. The council stated that robust evidence shows that financial incentive schemes are effective to help people quit.

The incentive could take on a national scope, and could inspire other countries to try it out…including Malta. A 2021 study by the European Commission found that Maltese smokers are among the most likely from Europeans to light up every day.

The survey found that 97% of smokers in Malta smoke at least once a day, making it the second-highest rate in Europe. The EU average is 67%, with Maltese cigarette smokers smoking through 14 a day.

On the other hand, two-thirds of Maltese (62%) claimed they have never smoked. 17% of Maltese who used to smoke they have abandoned the habit. Maybe a financial incentive could push this further.

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Prime Minister awards Emma Muscat and Kurt Calleja for their Maltese music contributions

Jun 3 2022

Prime Minister Robert Abela welcomed local singer and song-writer stars Emma Muscat and Kurt Calleja at the Auberge de Castille.

Abela awarded the two singers for being exemplary Maltese talent and, most importantly, for their contributions to Maltese music. The two were recent winners in prestigious local competitions, with Calleja winning Mużika Mużika and Muscat the Maltese Eurovision final.

Calleja rose to the top of the competition all about songs in Maltese with his ballad ‘Bla Tarf’. With a crowd singing along with Calleja, the win was deemed very well deserved by the general public.

On her part, Emma Muscat has been a rising star both locally and internationally. She went on to represent our island in Turin, but failed to make it to the finale of the competition.

In comments following the semi-final, Muscat said she was very proud of her performance but exclaimed she did not expect to be left out of the final. Still, she thanked all her fans for support and raised excitement for upcoming album ‘I am Emma.’

#MaltaDaily