A young man cited frequently by Fair Trials International (FTI) as an example of how vulnerable suspects need more legal protection has told The Times he is still struggling to come to terms with his experience in Malta.
The case of British citizen James Milton* was highlighted again last month in a comprehensive FTI report on defence rights in the EU.
Mr Milton was a 16-year-old living in Gozo with his mother when two police officers knocked on his door with a warrant to search their home in June 2009.
According to Mr Milton, without explanation he was taken to a police station where he was denigrated and questioned aggressively by Inspector Josric Mifsud, without a lawyer or parent present.
His mother was refused entry to the interview room.
Maltese law does not provide for the presence of a lawyer during interrogation, even for minors.
The right for minors to have a parent/guardian present during police interviews was only granted to under-16s in June 2009. Mr Milton claims he was not told about the allegations or possible charges against him until one hour into his five-hour interrogation.
Now 20, Mr Milton thinks the interrogation scarred him.
“I went from being a...
↧