Local News
Web posted on May 17, 2001 at 10:30:00 AM CET
Overdose death
Six hours in agony - victim could have been saved
Murder charges were yesterday filed against a
family – father, mother and son – in connection with the death of a teenager
last Sunday.
Carmel Decelis, 52, his son Jason Louis, 25, both from Pieta, and Concetta Decelis, 52,
from St Paul’s Bay, were accused of murdering Rachel Bowdler, 18, on the night
between Saturday and Sunday.
They were also charged with concealing the victim’s body in a field in Ras il-Gebel,
limits of Mgarr. All three pleaded Not guilty to the charges brought against them.
Tense scenes were witnessed in court as the three accused were brought in at around 2pm.
Jason Decelis, visibly angered, began verbally abusing a man in the court halls. Insults
were exchanged and police had to whisk Decelis into the courtroom.
The parents were also brought into court and Carmel Decelis – who is separated from
his wife – was in tears for most of the sitting.
The brief court hearing had to be postponed for around half-an-hour because the
family’s lawyer did not turn up. Legal aid was appointed for Carmel and Jason
Decelis, who both claimed to be unemployed. The mother, who recently took up a job as a
waitress, was not granted legal aid.
At a certain point, the father was noticed asking for the media to leave the court. A
request made to magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera was flatly refused.
A request for bail filed by the three accused was also turned down by the court.
As the three were being escorted out of the court building, Jason Decelis tried to assault
members of the media who were present, but he was restrained by the police.
The court sitting was originally expected to be held at 10.30am, but had to be delayed as
two of the accused decided to give police a statement.
The case is now put off until 25 May, when prosecution will begin presenting their case
against the three members of the Decelis family.
Assistant commissioner Michael Cassar and inspector Neil Harrison are prosecuting while Dr
Beppe Fenech Adami was appointed legal aid for Carmel and Jason Decelis. Dr Ian Farrugia,
Dr Michael Sciriha and Dr Aron Mifsud Bonnici appeared parte civile.
Agonising six-hour death
Rachel Bowler was left fighting for her life for a staggering six hours before she finally
succumbed and died, sources told The Malta Independent.
Investigations revealed that after the teenager had overdosed – probably because she
had not touched any hard drugs for a considerable period of time – nothing was done
to save her.
Sources said the victim would have probably survived if she had received appropriate
medical attention.
Ms Bowdler is understood to have died at the apartment belonging to Concetta Decelis in St
Paul’s Bay. It is also understood that the victim was left in the Mgarr field in the
early hours of Sunday morning. She was then found some time later by two farmers.
An autopsy revealed that Ms Bowdler died of pulmonary oedema, a condition brought about by
heart failure following a respiratory depression. |
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