Lorin Scicluna Testifies in Trial Over 2019 Lassana Cisse Murder
· Updated
In brief
- Lorin Scicluna took the witness stand in his trial for the 2019 racially motivated murder of Lassana Cisse.
- Under questioning, Scicluna admitted that he and a co-accused had previously targeted Black individuals.
- Court proceedings highlighted changes between Scicluna's latest testimony and his initial police statements.
Lorin Scicluna, one of two former soldiers accused of the fatal drive-by shooting of Lassana Cisse in 2019, has testified in his own defence before the Criminal Court.
During his cross-examination, Scicluna acknowledged that he and his co-accused had previously driven around looking for Black people. The admission came as prosecutors questioned him on the racial animus underpinning the series of attacks in the Birżebbuġa area.
Scicluna also altered key parts of his account during his time on the stand, presenting a version of events that diverged from statements he gave to investigators shortly after his arrest in 2019. The discrepancies were closely examined by both the prosecution and the presiding judge.
Cisse, a 42-year-old father from the Ivory Coast, was murdered in April 2019 while walking home along Triq tal-Ġebel in Birżebbuġa after watching a football match. Two other men were shot and seriously injured in the same incident, which investigators have classified as Malta's first racially motivated murder.
Scicluna, who served in the Armed Forces of Malta at the time of the incident, faces charges of murder aggravated by racial hatred, attempted murder, and inciting racial hatred. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The trial is expected to hear final submissions from the prosecution and defence teams before jurors retire to consider their verdict.
The Spin Room
Low media divide. Both outlets reported on the trial proceedings factually, with one focusing on Scicluna's admissions under questioning and the other highlighting changes in his version of events.
Updates
- : Updated with reporting from TVM News and ONE News: Lorin Scicluna placed the blame for the fatal shooting onto co-accused Francesco Fenech during his testimony as the defence began addressing the jury.