Noel Azzopardi has pleaded not guilty to the New Year’s Day murder of Eric Borg after voluntarily surrendering to Rabat police.
Azzopardi, a 39-year-old unemployed individual accused of wilful homicide, using a firearm for a crime, firing a gun near an urban area, and neglecting secure storage of his gun and ammunition, entered his plea during an arraignment before Magistrate Monica Vella.
His lawyers acknowledged Azzopardi’s psychiatric history, expressing no contest to the arrest’s validity and requesting access to his medical records, particularly those from Mount Carmel Hospital.
During the arraignment, Azzopardi, standing throughout, required simplified and repeated questions. He turned himself in as authorities initiated a manhunt for Borg, found dead with gunshot wounds in Rabat.
Inspector Wayne Camilleri stated that police received a report of shots fired on January 1 at around 3:30 pm, discovering Borg deceased on Triq il-Fidloqqom.
Azzopardi, identified as a key person of interest, surrendered to Rabat police with relatives around 5:15 pm, confessing to the crime.
The prosecution did not disclose a motive, and Azzopardi’s lawyers, including Arthur Azzopardi, Jacob Magri, and Alex Miruzzi, did not request bail.
They released Mount Carmel Hospital staff from professional secrecy, allowing discussions on Azzopardi’s placement at Corradino prison or Attard hospital. Inspectors Wayne Camilleri and Godwin Scerri, alongside Attorney General lawyer Kaylie Bonett, prosecuted the case.
#MaltaDaily
Photo Source: Times of Malta (Matthew Mirabelli)