1 88 QOR TI KOSTITUZZJONALI L-EWWEL PART!

189
k if ji rriz u lta m i x-xh ieda tiegh u stess fuq i k kwotata; l nvece dan i i -punt specifiku fir-rigward ta' 1-artikolu 6
gie d i versi drabi kk unsidrat mi ll-K um mi ssjoni . Hekk per
Ghal dawn i r-ragunijiet 1-appell fuq dan 1-aggravju, sew fl ezempju fid-deci zjon i tat-1 8 ta' Dicem bru, 1980 Crocia ni et
aspett pri nci pal i tieghu , sew f'dak ancillari qed ji gi respi nt. U vs Italy, fejn gie ri tenu t il l i :
dana u ko l l b 'referenza ghall-kazistika m i ll-organi Ewropeja
tad Dri ttijiet tal-Bniedem I i d i n i l-Qort i thoss isahhu "The Commission has already acknowledged that in
d del i berazzjon ijiet tagh ha; certain cases a virulent press campaign could prejudice the
fairness of a trial by influencing public opinion, and
Effetti vamen t d i n i l-Qorti ma sabet ebda kaz tal-Qort i consequently thejurors called upon to decide on the guilt of the
E w ropeja fejn dan i i-pu nt gie d i rettament d i battut. 11-kazi I i acused and thus involve the liability of the state"; '1
.,
gew i k k wotat i mi ll -istess part ijiet u cjoe s-Sutter Case
(4/1982/50/ Pero, i m baghad 1 -istess Ku m m issjon i i rriteniet: 1\.qq'O
79) u s-Su nd ay Times Case, k ien u pjuttost j i rrigwardaw id-dr i ,,,,
:H'' -v-.o.o'(\
tt ta ' 1-istam pa ghal-l i berta taghha I i h uwa sancit b'arti kolu "The Commission notes finally that the accused were '!l x
iehor ta ' 1-istess K onvenzjon i ; brought before judges, who although not all professional -vs(,?>(
1 - 1
judges, nontheles. provided every guarantee of integrity, i e'-?>'(\o_
Jinghad i ll i mi n kejja dan saret xi referen za b'mod i ndi impartiality and experience"; , ., e(?>
rett : Ge
_ gha l l-a rt i kol u 6 fi l-kaz The Sunday Times vs The Un ited U ghal hek k 1-istess K um missjon i iddecid iet:
Kingd om . Dan il-kaz gie hek k irrap portat fit-X th Con ference \:)(di
of t he Eu ropea n Con st i t u tiona l Court mi zm um f'Budapest s
"taking the circumstances into account the Convention
mis-6 sa I- 10 ta ' Mejju , 1 996 fejn is-suggett tad-d iskussjoni
considers that the applicants have not shown that the Italian : \
kien Freed om cf' Expression with Special Regard to Masi

'
press campaign effec ted the fairness of the trial or indeed the llil
Media:
presumption of innocence which must be respected by the trial
court"; I
"The case before the European Court of Human Rights
related io an injunction restraining publication of a projected
article in which the Sunday Times accused the distillers L-appl i kazzjoni numru 3860/68 deciza m ill-Kumm
issjoni tas- I 6 ta ' Mejju , 1 969 X vs The U nited Kingdom,
compa ny of' negligence. The injunction was made on the ground fejn gie riten ut i l l i:
that puhlication was likely to pre judge the litigated issue
pending hej(Jre the N ational Courts. The Court sitting in
plenary session held that the injunction constituted a violation "Whera.1 the applicant fur ther complains of the fac t that
of Article JO of the Convention in relation to the publisher, the the press had given extensive coverage to this case and that he
editor and a group (}/' journali sts of the Sunday Times. The was puh/icly accused in a television intervie w for his trial and
iniunction did not correspond to a social need sufficiently
wessing lo outweigh the public interest in freedom of
expression";

\
\
 1 90 QORTI KOSTITUZZJONA LI
whereas he alleges that this publicity had prejudicial effect in
that it influenced the jury againsl him: whereas in this regard
invokes Article 6, paras. 1 and 2 of the Convention; whereas the
Commission notes that the full Court of" Apeal extensively
examined the merits of the applicant 's case and found that his
conviction was well founded: whereas the Court of Appeal sils
anJ determines an appeal without a jury: whereas consequently
any errors which were commilled by the jury as a result of bias
caused hy such previous publicity and which allegedly effected
the judgement of"the trial court would have been rectified by the
dec"i:1irm of the full Court of Appeal dated July, 1968; whereas
in this respe cl the Court of Appeal had special regard to the
applicant 's complaint that there had been prejudi cial publicity
concerning this case and f(mnd that there was no real risk that
the jury was influenced hy the publicity: whereas the Court of
An>cal .f iirther found that the case for the Crown was so
uvC!rwhelming that no.jury could conceivably have returned any
_ dif f erent verdicts against the appllicant: whereas
the ( 'ommission, having examined the case as it was submitted
by the upplicanl, .finds no reason itse(f to adopl an opinion
other than that expressed hy the Court of Appeal:
whereas the C 'mnmission does not find any appearance of a
violation of the righls and ji-eedom set f( Jrth in the Convention
and especially in the article invoked hy the a1>plica11t: whereas
it follows that this flllr t of the application is manifestly
unfounded within the meaning of article 7 para. 2 of the
Convention";
Fi l-kaz, X vs Austria , deciza fit-23 ta' Lulju, 1963,
appl i kazzjon i nu m ru 1476/62 fejn gie hekk ri ten ut fir-rigward
ta' 1-i nfl u wenza I i seta ' k ien hem m fuq i l-gurati m i n n kam
panja ta ' 1-istampa ;
..Whereas as stated ahove, A rt icle 6, para. I guarantees a
fai r hearing to every person who is charged with a criminal
of fence : whereas it is clear Iha! in certain cases and in
L- E W W EL PA RT! 191
particular cases where laymen partici pate as jurors in the
proceedings, this guarantee may be seriously impaired by a
virulent press campaign against the accused, which would so
influence public opinion and thereby thejurors, that the hearing
can no longer be considered to be a fair hearing within the
meaning of Article 6 ql th!! Convention;
Whereas in the present case, the applicant had not
submitted any evidence, for example any passage in the text of
the relevant decision which would lead the Commission to
conclude that the articles appearing in the Viennese newpaper: !j
Echo der Heimat did so influence the ju rors: whereas,
therefore. an examination of this part of the application, '.i;Jir.;- 1
including an exarnination made ex offici o does not disclose any
appearance of a violation of the rights and freedoms set forth
o.
in the provisions c/ th convention: whereas it follows that it ;!
was
manifestly infounded and was also rejected on the 21st of June, "..
.(
1963 in accordance with Article 2 7 para. 2 of the Convention";
Dawn i l-konsiderazzjon ijiet gew ukol l ezam i nati m i nn Dr.
Roberta Gauci fit-tezi taghha "The right to be heard by an
independent and impartial Tribunat' fejn gabret sintesi tad
decizjon ijiet I i tt i e t1du m i ll-istess K umm issjon i u fejn hekk
tghi cl :
"'/t also has to be borne in mind that some press comments
on a trial involving a mailer of publ ic interest must be expected.
Theref(ire, in cases with a marked political background the risk
and necessity for the judge to be on the alert against improper
influ ences may even apply to a higher degree. Jn the Strasbourg
case law hmrever, it is assumed that a p rofessional judge in gf!
neral will he quite aware of these exlernal factors and will not
readily be influ enced hy them, while moreover on appeal, the
higher Court, if necessary. may act in a corrective way with
 192 QORTI KOSTITUZZJONALI
regard to the lower court and with regard to ajury, if any. Thus
in the Menten case the Commission found that the great
publicity and the expression of hostile feelings in this case could
not be avoided, but the Netherlands Supreme Court had
ascertained accurately on what argumentation the lower Courts
had based theirfindings.
In cases of trial by jury the risk of the jury being
influenced by public opinion or by biased statements of
witnesses of experts is more obvious. Here again it will be
diff icult to prove this, the more so because a decision of thejury
does not include a written statement of reasons. Moreover, in its
case law the Commission evidently assumes that if a verdict of a
jury has been appealed from to a Court and the falter had not
L-EW W EL PARTI 193
enlightened public. There is general recognition of the fact that
the Courts cannot operate in a vacuum. Whilst they are the
forum for the settlement of disputes, this does not mean that
there can be na proper discussion of disputes elsewhere, be it in
specialised journals, in the general press , or amongst the public
at largf!. Furthermore, whilst the mass media must not overstep
the bounds imposed in the interest of the proper administration
of justice, it is encumbent on them to impart information and
ideas concerning matters that come before the Courtsjust as in
other areas of public interest. Not only do the media have the
task of impairing such information and ideas; the public also
IL::
has a right to receive that"; :; ,,?r>J
;!,..............
1;'

found any partiality, the Commission is unlikely to find 11-Qorti sejra issa tezami na t-tielet aggravju ta' I-appellant. If
otherwise.
comment may It may also resultbythat
be countered the effect
the judge of prejudicial
himself during the
Permezz ta' dan it-tiel et aggravju I-appellant jilmenta dwar il ii
pregud izzju otgettiv ta' 1-l m hallef Ii kkonduca 1-guri. Jinghad
9S
proceedings, by his direction via the attitude and statements to i l l i deher car, almenu fl-istadju ta' dan 1-appell, Ii I-appel lant i

the jury to discount such comments thus having a neutralising k ien qed jattakka 1-i m pa rzjal ita oggetti va u m h ux d i k ht\ona
effect on such undue influences"; tl
soggettiva ta ' 1-l mhal l ef I i k kond uca 1-guri; 'lt..ar({''
I
I ll
11-Qortifil-kaz
ssib odjern;
I i dawn 1-elementi jinkwadraw ruhhom Fi t-trattazzjoni verbal i q uddiem d i n i l-Qorti, id-d ifensur ' ano
precizament
ta' I -appellant hek k espri ma ruhu dwar dan i i-punt : ;i ra\\
Finalment 1-ahhar kwotaz2joni f'dan il-kaz tispetta lill
awturi Janice K and Bradley m ill-ktieb taghhom European ''Hemm im baghad u kol l I i mil l -bid unett tal-guri, 1-
Human R ights Law - Text and Materials, fejn fil-kummenti Imhallef seden ti ta certu decizjonijiet I i m il l-ewwel
inisslu 1- kon vi nci ment r m i n i kun qed jara 1-gu ri I i
taghhom dwar
1 979, hekk The
jghid u: Sunday
Times Case, deciza fis-26 ta' April, kien hemm pregud izzju fl- l m hal lef. Pregud izzju mhux fis-sens
I i 1-lmhal lef kel l u x i haga kontra 1-persu na I i qed jiggud
"These principles are of particular importance as far as ika, imma pregud izzju tis-sens u:Zat fi l -kawza J i cci tajt ta' 1-
the press i.s concerned. They are equally applicable in thefield 1996 fis-sens I i jkun d iga fforma opi njon i dwar il-karattru tal-
of the administration ojjus tice, which serves the interest of the persuna Ii qed
jig gudi ka. Fis-sens Ii 1-lmhallef sedenti rrevoka il-"bail lill
im putat wara I i sab, issa seta' kien korrett u seta' ma kienx
korrett. J iena certament I i sab dak I i sab in all honesty.

I
community at large and requires the cooperation of an onestament k i en konv i nt I i hekk kien, wara I i sab Ii 1-
imputat
194 k ien qed jigdeb dwar kwistjon i ta' m in i ltaqa' u jien k
QORTI KOSTITUZZJONA LI
hawnhekk qed n i rriferi xxi ghall-i ncident Ii gie allegat I i 1- g
kl ijent tiegh u ltaqa ' ma' 1-Assistent K u mm issarju, al lura jk
 is-Superi ntenden t Nik o! CL1tajar u Ii b'hekk seta' ji nkwina 1- .j
1
provi ". I ssa 1-k l ijent tieghi kien xehed I i ma kienx iltaqa' ma L-E W W EL PA RT!
N iko! Cu tajar. L-I mhallef wasal ghad-decizjoni I i ha ji ggudika
1 95 ii
1-g Llri I i 1-klijent tieghi k ien qed jigde b u rrevokal u I-bail ghax Fi n-nota ta' osservazzjon ijiet I i ghamel 1-appellant jaccetta .:1
glia me l x i haga I i mh ux suppost''; i 11i d-deci zjon ij iet 1-aktar ricenti tal-Qorti Ewroepj a hum a fis
sens I i ma hem m x ksu r ta' 1-imparzja li ta I i twassal ghal n
uqqas ta' sm igh xieraq fejn il-gud ikant ikun irrifjuta I i jaghti 1-
L-appellant isostn i I i la darba 1-lmhal lef k ien dahhal dan il-
liberta provv isorja l i ll i mputat. Dan i l-kaz, pero, skond hu,
prekoncett f'mohtrn , gustament jew i ngustamen t, kien ferm cl i
huwa ben d i vers. Hawn si tratta ta ' l i berta provvisorja I i giet
ffiel i gha l i h biex i ku n oggett ivament i nd ipendenti u dana
imnehhija:
pa rt i ko larment meta dan k ien kaz fejn il-kred i b bil i ta tax-
xhieda kell ha im portanza fenornenal i fid-determ i nazzjon i tal- I
guri; "L-l m hallef gharnel ezerci zzju attiv, u i k konstata I i 1-htija
ta' 1 -esponent fi l-ksur tal-kond izzjonijiet tal -l iberta provvisorja i,
k icnet man i festa. M h ux k ien d etenut u ha ll i h deten ut. K i t, out"
lsostn i I i r-real ta fattwal i tal-kaz, ghall-k untrarju forsi ta' ,
ien l i beru LI ord na I i tit nd1hi l u 1-l i berta" (fol. 491 tal-
dak prettament legal i, ma k i n i tx tippresta ruhha ghar-ri k uza ta' 1- t
process Kost i t u zzjona l i ); ,j,
istess lm liallef. Fl-ewwel lok kien ik un hemm i l-pregud izzju term !;;
ak bar f'kaz I i d i n it-ta l ba gtrnr-ri k L1i:a tigi m ich uda, u fit t ien
i lok k ien hem m it-telf taz-zm ien u lterjuri f'dawn i l L-l m ha llef gha lhekk esprima ruh u b 'determi nazzjoni
"ils'?
proced u ri LI dan wara I i 1-gu ri k ien il u names snin biex isi r u attiva fuq 1-attendi bbi l i ta ta' 1-akkuzat;
1- im p ulat k ien t i lef i l-l i berta provviso1:ja; f>-

Taht dan 1-aggravju I-appel lant isemm i ukoll i l-fatt I i 1-

:;:...
;;:
Dan 1-i lment gie ukoll ikku nsidrat m i I 1-Qorti ta' I-Appell l rn hal lef seden t i qara 1-provvcd i rnenti I i bi h iritira 1-li berta
Kri m i na l i fis-sentenza taghha. Di k i l-Qorti k ienet iddecidiet J i prov visorja ta' 1-esponent i nstantanjament ezatt mal l i d-d ifensur ii
ma k ien hem m xejn I i j zom m lill-appellant biex jew ji rrik uza t iegh u spicca s-sottom issjon ijiet I i k ien ghamel fuq d i n i l f S
I i 11-1 m hal lef sedenti, abbazi tal-provved imenti tal -Kod ici verten za. l iema provved i ment gtia l hek k, kien ta' bi lfors ga ?11
K ri m i na l i, jew, jekk hass I i 1-istess l m hallef ma k ienx nk iteb qabel ; t\O<'a'
sejjer
ji ggara nt i l u im parzjal ita, jad ixx i li ll-Prim 'A w l a tal-Qorti Civi ;/car((\'
l i fi l -gu ri sdizzjon i K ost ituzzjona l i taghha. L-appellant, stan te A ktar tard fis-sottom issjon ijiet tieghu, ma jaq bi lx Ii seta' "
.' ,, no
I i ma agix x iex b 'd an i i-mod ma ghazi l x ghalhekk m i lli ji rr i k u za l i l l-I m hall ef LI dana m h ux biss ghar-ragunij iet fuq Ci
jaghmel tati LI rn oght ija u k oll fit-t rattazzjon i verbal i qlldd iem d i n i l- a .
v
Qorti, pcr6 u k ol l ghax i sost n i I i skond 1-artikol u 446 (2) tal- :efa\\
uzuigh
sm m itar-ri medji I i k ienu d ispon i b bl i ghal ih qabel ma beda s
l -guri; K od ici K ri m i na l i u 1-art i kol u 734 tal -K odici ta' Organ
izzazzjon i u Proced L1ra ('i vi l i, d i n i r-ri kuza ma k i n i tx tk u n I
I
wahd a lega lment sosten i bb l i ; fao9a
.ft;(<\'<l"
Fi nal men t , isostn i I i m hux argumen t I i ma k ienx 1- '" \\?f\
lmhallef I i ddec ida h L1 n n ifsu fuq i l-meritu ta l-htija o meno ta' \c.e
1-im putat, LI da n gha l i cx, kif jal lcga I i gie deciz m i ll- r\V..C
Ku rnm issjon i y.\.e
r\1
\
 i
{
196
I QORTJ KOSTITUZZJONA LI

l
L-EWWEL PA RT! 197
Ewropeja, i n -nuqqas ta' parzja l ita ta' 1-lmhallef tista'
tigi
trasmessa l i l l-gurija; provvisorja u I i dawn i l -kondizzjonijiet kien u gew miksura mi
responsiva quddiem il ll im putat u ghal hek k dik i l-l i berta giet irrevokata ;
'f Fi n-nota ta' osservazzjonijiet Final ment f'd i n i t-trattazzjoni 1-appellati jsostn u !

Pri m ' I stanza, I-inti mati j i rri battu I-argument ta' I-appellant argument tagh hom tar-rimedju ord inarju I i ma giex uzat m ill
Ii appel la nt, I i twassal ghat-tatti ka m i n nu uzata I i jqajjem d i n
ma setax ji rrik uza l i ll-f m hallef tal -Pri m 'Istanza, u dan il k w istjon i kostit uzzjonal i biss f'dan 1-istadju, u dan ghax it
isostnuh b'referen za ghall-gurisprudenza lokal i fuq i l- latti k a t iegh u ma rnex x iet l ux b'rizultat ta' verdett negattiv

:
kwistjoni tar ri k uza u fuq 1-interpretazzjoni I i ghand ha fil gu ri ;
tinghata I i i dawk i l provved imenti ta l-l igi k k wotati m i ll
,!l
Q.'\

S"\ /
-appellant. Di pi u, anke jekk gliall-grazzja ta ' I-argu men t dan :'t I
I ma setax isi r, I-ap pellant kel l u dejjem i l-possi bbi l i ta, kif
irri ten iet il-Qorti ta' I-Appel l K ri m i nal i I i jqajjem k
Dan 1-i l ment ta' I-appell ant ukoll gie kkunsidrat
speci fikatament mi l l-Pri m 'Awla tal-Qort i Civil i bhala wiehed

' 10
.- -
?..,J..I.;..
1:.

;1 wistjoni kostituzzjonal i a ten ur ta' 1- artikol u 46 tal-Kostit I i kel l u i m pl ikazzjon ijiet I i jmorru oltre dak I i i,
strettament ji pprovd i 1-K od ici Kri m i na l i ; ,f
uzzjoni. Mh ux hekk invece ghazel ! appellant I i ghar-ragun ijiet
11
. tattici, m 'gtrnmi lx uzu m i nn dawn ir .. i:
'I '
ri medji ord inarji. Ma jistax issa ghalhekk, f'dan 1-istadju, Dwar il-kwistjo i tar-ri medju ord i na rju, 'Sew fir-ri kuza ; c:is
iqajjem d i n i l -kwistjo ni f'forum straord inarju; ta' :o
fl 1- l m hal l ef, sew fid-d ri tt kost i tuzzjonal i I i kellu I-appel lant .tiOfla\
11. a 1'ica('((\e\ P. ca
G ha r-ragu n ijiet I i ghand hom ik u n u ovvji aktar tard f'd
i n is-sen tenza rn h ux sejra tissem ma ' aktar taht dan 1- tempo dehito d i k i l-Qorti hekk osservat: !J; o.uSU i\ 'II
aggravju 1- allegazzjoni I i 1-0norevo l i Mhallef kell u d-deci 'l flO,,"'
.,,,e(a''
zjoni lesta qabel i t-trattazzjoni tad-d ifensuri dwar il-l iberta "Appart i 1-fatti I i dan 1-ordn i kien, fih i nni fsu, inti z J:

provvisorja; bhala mi zu ra protetti va ta l -princi pju tal-pr.ezu nzjoni ta' 1- '!(. ,'{...Oflt'(O
innocenza ta ' 1 -akk ut.a t, u sa hawn h u i ll ustrattiv proprju ta' .t;)(Oa'"e{?>O.
Fid -dibattit u oral i q uddiem d i n i l-Qorti, 1-intimati 1-im parzjal ita la' 1-0norevol i M rrnl l ef I i ppresjeda 1-gu ri, I i ''13'((\\q ,..,
dan 1-aggravju ji pprova jpoggi fid -du bbju , ghand u jk u n ,... \a
jsemmu d-decizjonijiet recenti tal-K um m issjoni u tal-Qorti ';11 \\'?(\'((\ ,.. '\
Ewropeja I i, jso stnu h uma, jaghml u ha cara I i 1-fatt Ii 1-Irnhal ovvju I i jekk ir ri k orrent i ku n akkuzat k ien ihossu vittma : Q\Ce'((\'O{Ur t'
ta' lezjoni tad -dritt .,, (5 ta'f'
lef iku n ha deci zjoni pre-proces swal i ma t ipprekl ud ihx m ill i
jisma' 1-kaz fuq i l -meritu. K ien u biss dec izjon ijiet fuq il-m fo11da menta l i tieg h u ghal smi gli xieraq, h u kell u kul l jedd
eritu I i k ien u jaffott waw i l -ht ija o meno ta ' 1-im putat Ii u dover I i jagixxi fil-foro kom petenti ghar-ri medju, { T'
setgliu jwa sslu
dak i l-preg ghal oggett iv f'mohh i l-gud ikant I i, bhala
ud izzju kienet
0 ""'

konsegwenza, k ienet i ggib ic-calida tas-sm igh x ieraq. Fil-kaz x 'kienet J -ord ni tal -Qorti I i h u ste.ss kien qed jattakka "Ma k
odjern d i n id-deci zjoni ma ki nitx ta ' d i n i l-portata u ma bhala ienx
kienx m i nn u I i 1-l m hal lef kien esprima xi gud izzju fuq il- parzjal i " (pagna 32 tas-sentenza) ; bit.zejjed I i
karattru ta' ! appellant. L-uni ka k wistjoni I i ddecida 1-lmha l wie hed
lef kien Ii kien hem m certi kond izzjonijiet ma rbuta mad Sussegwen tement d i k i l-Qorti kkon k l ud iet: iq anqal id-d
-d ritt tal-l i berta

r
ubbju fuq bazi sem pl i cemcnt ak kade m i ka jew i poteti ka. Jehtieg I i ji gi y..\e'fao. '' ", '30P..
t\Y,Oftefl'C. ,4
ppruvat ,,a.(t\-0\
'{...a\l 'lo oe\los\i
oW
\\'
'((\ \).Y..
'/.
y,ieflY..
1 98 QORTI KOSTITU ZZJON ALI
I i 6-cirkostanzi kienu tal i I i jwassl u ghall-konvinci ment moral
i Ii 1-operat tal-gud i ka nt soggettivament jew oggettivament
ma
setax m a kien x parzjal i. Din i l-Qorti ma tarax k if tista' -
wara dak kol l u I i kku nsi drat il-Qorti ta' I-A ppell Kri mi nali
fir rigward u k konsid rat i l-gu ri sprudenza tal-K um m issjoni
u tal Konvenzjoni Ew ropeja tasal ghal l-kon k l uzjoni I i tista'
tidd ubita m i l l-i m parzj al ita soggettiva u oggetti va tal-gud
ikant I i ppresjed a 1-guri taht eiami'';
lkku nsidrat:
!Ii i qabel kol lox u qabel ma ti k k unsidra dawn 1-
aggravji r ak tar dettal , d i n i l-Qort i ti kkond i vid i 1-opinjoni
espressa mi ll Prim 'A wla ta l -Qort i Civi l i fis-senten za
taghha. Hija thoss, k u n t rarjarn en t gha l dak I i sostna I -ap
pel lant, I i 1-in vol v iment gu rid i k u t a' 1-lm hallef h ija
soggett ivament u oggetti vament ak tar i ppronu nzjata meta l
mhallef j iddecidi I i jaghti 1-liberta provviso1ja f kaz bhal
dan, min n meta jidd ecidi I i 1- kond i zzjonijiet im posti
fit-tgawd ija ta' dik i l-l iberta gew m i k su ra. I I-process
men tal i del i berattiv hu wa ferm aktar oggett i va ment i nvol u
t fl -ewwe l kaz m i l l i fit-tieni, fejn fl-ewwel kai. anke jc kk
b'mod pr ima fac ie, 1-Jmhall ef i rid ihares m h ux b iss lejn is-
serjeta ta' 1-offiza, i 1-possi bbi I ita I i jer ga' j igi kommess
reat u 1-in kwi na men t tal -provi, izda u koll lejn il possi bbil
i ta I i 1-akk uzat k ien verament invol ut fil-fatt i kri m inuzi
b'mod ta l i I i dan kell u ji ggustifika 6-cahda provvisorja
tal l iberta persona l i tieghu . 11-fatt jekk gewx jew le
infarti 1-
kond i zzjonijiet im post i ghat d i k i l-l i berta provvisorja ji
nvolvi process mentali ta' grad ferm aktar oggettiv m illi
soggetti v I i hu ghalhckk ferm i nqas sospett fir-rigward ta' 1-
imparzjalita tal gud ikan t meta final ment jigi biex jigg ud i ka
1-meritu. Dan koll u q ieghed j i nghad fi1-parametri tad-d i
griet moghti mi 11-istess l m ha l lef fi l-kaz prezenti fejn d i n i
l-l i berta giet revo kata u fil parametri tad-decizjonijiet meh uda
rn ill-organi tal -Qort i Ewropeja, li ema zewg punt i jigu k
kunsidrati aktar tard f'd in is-
L-E WWEL PA RT! 199
sentenza;
Qabel pero m a jigu kku nsi d rati dawn i z-zewg pun ti u t i
gi k kwotata kazist i ka Ew ropeja fir-rigward ta' d i n i l-materja
ta ' 1- imparzja l i ta oggettiva ta l-gud ikant I i jk un ga espri ma
ruhu f'deciijoni pre-proceswali hem m aspetti ohra ta' dan l-
aggravju
I i jr id u ji gu kku nsidrat i . ld-deci zjoni pre-processwali f'dan
il kaz itt ietld et m i ll-l rn hallef. lnvece d-decizjoni fuq il-htija
o meno ta' 1-irn putat giet rneh uda mi ll-gurija - effetti
vament a ll ura gud ikan t d i fferent i minn ta' 1-ewwel
.'':}I
Ii ,utli,
.!
'
decizjonni. Dan ! argum ent p urament legal i meh ud sa
1-estrern tieghu, u i n terpretat strettament kien ki ek u jwa
ssal ghac-cahda ta' dan 1- aggravju biss fuq dan ii-punt. Konxju
1:
I
ta' din id-diffikulta, ! appellant i sostni I i 1-pregud izzju ta' 1- r
lmhal lef gie trasrness lill gu rij a peress I i gi.e rni nn u ritless :l.
,I
lejha. Dwar dan ii-punt pero ma ngab i tx 1-ickefl prova. Din il- "I'
Qorti ga kk mm entat dwar 1- oggett i vi ta u 1-irn parzjal i ta ta' ,1t.
1-istess gurija I i dehret fattwal rnent m i ll-agir tagh ha, k if ga "l c.\an
kkum men tat estensivarnent dwar 1-ind i rizz ta' 1-l m hallef l i ll
-istess gu rija. F'dan 1- i nd i ri zz m h u x ta ll i 1- l m hal lef ma _!lkt\eS
wera ebda hias lejn I-appel l ant, izda lanqas ma i nd ika I i k
ien ga fforma xi opinjoni dwar i l-karattru
'.":
t iegh u . Gha ll -ku ntrarju, i l -gurija giet ri petutatment monita ii'
biex tasal ghall-kon k l uzjoniji et I i d ehril hahi rn i ll-fatti q ud ;"'-e'f"ot.d
d iern ha u Ii twarra b xi opi njoni dwarhorn I i setghet
i nghatat mill-istess l rn hall ef; 5\lfl'fl\1
Hu wa ut i l i I i f dan 1-istadju j igi k kwotat d i k i l -parti
tad d igriet rn oghti mi ll-Qort i K r iminal i fis-7 ta' jan nar, 1993 l\
fejn i l Qorti, wara ri kors ta ' 1-A vu kat Genera l i t al-3 1 ta'
Dicern bru, 1992, ord nat i r-riarrest ta' 1-akkuzat. M inn dan id-
digriet (fol.
.\
408) tat-process kri m i nal i ) proprju ma ji rrizul tax i lli b 'xi
mod il-gud i kan t ifform a xi im pressjoni dwar i l-karattru ta ' 1-
?\
imputat h'mod ta l i I i k i en i k k u nsidrat min nu bhala gidd ieb.
Huwa mi nnu I i fic-ci rkostanzi ta l-kaz, ern m net i x-x hieda ta '
Eusebio Buhagiar, P.C. N ichol as Vassal lo u J oseph Cutajar
ghax sahet I i
\
 200 QORTI KOSTITUZZJONALI
dawn:
"qabl u bejn iethom dwar ic-ci rkostanzi sostanzja l i";
Jek k se ma i wiehed ji sta ' jgh id I i kien hemm x i kum
menti zg radevo l i dwar xi karattrLI ta' x i persuna, dawna k ieriu
fil konfront tax -xh ud Nicholas CL1tajar LI m h ux fi l-konfront
ta' 1- im putat fejn i l -Qorti sabet I i dan Cutajar:
''... pero k ien evaziv u reticenti b'tal i mod I i 1-Qorti ma
jistax i koll ha affid amen t fix-xh ieda tiegli u ";
U gha l hekk i l -Qort i dd i kjarat:
"L-imsem m i Nicholas Cutajar, I i m iegli u kien 1-akkuiat
kif i ntq al fuq, h uwa wiehed m ix-x hied a tal-prosek uzzjoni fi l-
kawza pendent i kontra 1-akk uiat. Gha lhek k bl-i nkontru tieghu
ma' Cutajar fic-ci rkostanzi k if fuq deskritti 1-akkuzat
kjarament k iser i l-k und i zzjoni premcssa ta l-l i berta provvisorja
tieghu , u cjoe I i ma ji kkom u n i ka bl -ebda mod ma ' kwa l un
kwe xh ud tal prosek uzzjon i sabiex j intak k a _iew jaltera 1-
provi'';
(konk luzjoni t a' dri tt i bbazat pu rament fuq il-provi
m ressqa qudd iem d i k i l-Qorti f'dak 1-istadju);
L-al legazzjon i I i 1-lm ha llef I i kkond uca 1-guri qara dan
id d i gr iet im medjata ment wara t-trattazzjon i fuq dan i i-punt
b'mod
I i ju r i I i k icn i n k i teb qabel LI ghalhek k I i 1-istess l mh allef
kel l u ga prek oncett dwa r i l -mate1:ja giet i rt i rata permezz ta'
ri kors ta' I-appellant ti l - P rim ' l stanza tas-7 ta ' Novem bru, 1
996. Din il Qort i ghal hek k , fi lwaqt I i taccetta 1-i spj egazzjoni
moghtija mi ll
istess appella nt, fi l-konfront t ieghu, u ta ' l-A vL1kat Dr.
Joseph Ga lea Debono, u r-ragunijiet ghala wassl L1 ghal
din I-
L-EW WEL PA RT! 201
im pressjon i hazi na, ji dhri l ha I i m 'ghandh iex ti kkLlmm enta
aktar fuq dan i i-pu nt ta ' dan 1-aggravju;
Ma jid h i rx I i h uwa kkontestat, lanqas m i ll-istess
appellant I i seta', k ieku stess hass il-htiega, ji rri korri ghar-ri
medju kostitLl zjona l i wara dan id-d i griet ta ' 1-Imha llef LI I i
pero dan m 'gham l ux. Jid her pero, I i m 'hemmx qbil fuq i l-fatt
jekk 1- appellant setax ji rri kuza l ill-istess I mhallef;
Dwar d i n i l-kwistjoni ji pprovd i 1-artikol u 446 tal-
Kodici Kri m i nal i, K ap. 9 tal-Li gijiet ta' Mal ta. l s-
sLlbartiko lu ( J ) ta' dan 1-arti kol u ji pprovd i dwar f'liema
stadju tal-proceduri ghandha ti nghata d i n 1-eccezzjoni. A ppl
ikat dan is-subartikol u ghal l-kaz prezenti m 'hemm x dubbju I i
mi l-lat purament procedL1ra l i, )-appellan t kien ghadu fil-
possibbilita Ii jaghti din 1-eccezzjoni fiz-zinien meta nghata d-d
igriet fuq citat;
L-appellant pero jsostni I i wahda mi r-ragunijiet pri ncipal
i 'I ghal a ma tax d i n 1-eccezzjoni k ienet peress I i ma kienx
hemm bazi legal i fuqh i x setghet ti nghata , u ghalhek k, k ieku
nghatat zgu r I i ma k i nitx ti rnexxi LI gha l hekk k ienet t ista'
sservi biss biex taljena l i l l-gL1d ikant;
.I,
;il' 16/1
Apparti mi ll-fatt I i d i n i l-Qorti thoss I i ebd a gudikant .., Con
mhu n ormal ment urtat b'tal ba gtlarri ktif<i:-ffegtili,t.t parti {
I Agit
mil l -fatt u koll I i d i n 1-asserzjon i ta' I-appellant ma taqbi lx l
I
b'mod sostanzjal i max-x h ieda m i n nu m re_ssqa f'din i l- :l Ga
kawza, m i l-lat legal i h uwa j ibbaza 1-al l egazzjon i t ieghu fuq Ge1
is-subartikol u (2) ta ' 1-arti kol u 446. Dan is-su barti kol LI fl-
ewwel parti tieghu hekk ji pprovd i: U i nghad i ll i t-tien i part i ta' [)r
dan is-sL1bartiko l u hija totalment i rri levant i ghall-kaz odjern);
't' Sn
![ w
"L-l mhal lef ma ji stax jig i rri k uzat mill-Avukat Generali
jew m i l l -akkuzat, lanqas j i sta' jastjeni ruhu, f'ebda kawza, hl d1
ief
rt
I
c"
i
 '
202 QORTI KOSTITUZZJONALI
ghal xi wahda m ir-ragunijiet imsemm ija fl-artikolu 734
tal K od ici ta' Organi zzazzjoni u Procedura Civili ...";
ls-sLibtitolLI (2) tal-Kodici ta' Organizzazzjoni u Proced
ura Civil i, Kap. XII tal-Ligijiet ta' Malta, ji tkellem fuq ir-
rikuza ta' 1-lm hal lfin LI Magistrati LI jaffermaw bhala
principju Ii 1- l mtrnl lef ma jistax jigi ri k Lizat LI lanq as ma
jista' jastjeni hl ief gha l xi ragLin i msem m ija tl-arti kol LI 734
(artikol LI 733);
L-uni ka parti ta ' 1-artikol u 734 I i hija ri levanti
ghall-kaz prezenti hija s-su binciz (ii) tas-subarti kol LI (d) I i
jipprovd i :
"J ekk il-kawza kienet ga giet qudd iern u bhala lmhal
lef jew bha la arbitru u;
l zda dan rna jghoddx gtrnl decizjoni moght ija m ill-
l mhallef meta ma tk u nx qatghet defi nti ti vament i l-meritu
fi l-kwisstjoni bejn i l-part ijiet u l anqas ghal sentenza Ii
tehles ab observantia";
I
Nonostante 1-interpretazzjoni pjuttost wiesgha Ii
1- gLirisprudenza rieenti taghna tat I ii dan
[ johorgLix fi l-berah se johorgu fi-berah u 1-affariji"et se j i
il-provvedi ment dwar ir ri k uza ghal-l iema gurisprudenza
ssir referenza aktar tard f'din is-sentenza, rna jid h i rx I i d i n
b'xi mod bidd let dak I i dejjem gie sostn ut - u cjoe l j 1-l
mhallef I i ma jk Linx espri ma ruhu fuq il merit u m'ghand ux
' kollox fl i mkien jiena u sibt ruhu f'di lem ma Ii jekk niehu xi
ji gi ri kuzat u lanq as ma ji sta ' jastjeni. K ien ghal hek k I i
nhasset i n-necessi ta I i ssi r emenda f'd an 1-artikolu
perrnezz ta' 1-Att XXI V ta' 1-1995 fejn l rn hal lef I i kien
esprima rutw dwar kaz fis-Sekond 'Awl a ta l-Qorti Civi li
seta' jigi rri kuzat fil-kawza bejn 1-istess partijiet fil-Prim
'Awla tal-Qorti Civi l i. F'dan il -kaz, pero, kuntra rjament
ghall-kazijiet ohra pre processwal i, 1-ernend i I i saru fi l
-provvedi rnenti I i jittrattaw is separazzjoni personal i, t ul
1-andament ta ' zmien, taw lil l
l m hallef tas-Sekond'A w l a poteri deci zi vi pendente lite I i
zgur I i jaffettwaw fuq i l-meri t u proprju tal-kawza;
L-EWWEL PART! 203
Dan mhuwiex i l-kaz fir-rigward ta' 1-ghotja jew cahda
jew tnehhija tal-liberta provvisorja Ii mhux tlli ma tkunx
qatghet definitti vament il-merit u tal-kawza , izda lanqas biss
tincidi fuq dan il-meritu. 11-gurisprudenza ta' 1-istituzzjonijiet
tal-Qorti Ewropeja I i ghali hom iss i r referenza aktar tard,
huma ukoll f'dan i s-sens;
Huwa ovvjLI m inn ezam i tal-process, li I-appellant a
tempo vergine kell u hsibijiet d i versi minn dawk fuq espressi. til
Hekk per ezempjLI, mi x-xhieda moghtija mid-difensLir i.!,f'.
tieghu precedenti, fejn xehed quddiem il-Prim 'Awla tal-Qorti
Civili, fis-seduta tas-1 7 ta' Jannar, 1995, illi h Liwa haseb 'jIlI
Ii seta' jirrik uza lill l rn ha l lef, pero, ghal diversi ragunijiet ,
hafna mi nnhom tattici, iddecida I i ma ji mxix b'dan i i-mod; ii
II ii
t:1
"Issa jfena bhala avLikat, hemmhekk ridt niddecidi Sur ,111
lmhal lef, wara I i 1-Imhallef kien diga skreditah lill-akkuzat
11''
bid decizjoni ghandi x nirrikuzah ghall-guri jew le. U kelli II
dilemma kbi ra x'nista' naghmel. U gejt bejn haltejn i
x'naghmel tis-sens Ii issa 1-akkLizat tilef il-plegg. Jekk !1i
'."
nirrikuza lill-lmhal lef ser i kollha tohrog i r-raguni u allura 1-
iskop tad-digriet ta' 1-istess lmhallef Ii 1-affar ijiet ma .
ttawl LI b'mod I i 1-uni ka wiehed I i ghandu x 'j itlef kien 'j 'I"
'1ia
1-akkuzat I i se j ibqa' arrestat ghax bla bail. U meta wzint . ,
action biex ni rrik Liza l ill-l mhallef se tigi forsi aghar mil-lati
koll ha, wara konsultazzjoni ma' 1-akkuzat dehril na Ii ma rt,
w
kell niex ni rri kuzaw l i l l-lmhal lef u niehu cans, u fil-fatt
hadna, I i 1-guri jkotn pl i presjedLit mi l l-istess Imhallef u '/'e
b'diffikulta kbi ra" (fol. 259-260 ta t -process);
j
Mi n-naha 1-ohra h uwa fti t kontro-se n s, fi l-fehma ta ' ;
din il Qorti, I i ssostni f dan 1-appell il li mill-banda 1-wahda
ma stajtx ti rri kuza l i ll-l mhallef ghax peress I i hu ma kienx
esprima ruhu
 J

I
i
204 QORTI KOSTJTUZZJONALI
dwar il-meritu dan ma kienx permess m il-ligi , u mill-banda
1- ohra ssostni I i b'd i k id-decizjoni I-istess I mhaI Ief seta' ma
kienx parzjal i biex jid decid i 1-meri tu ghax keI I u diga opinjoni
dwar il karattru ta ' 1-imputat. 11-provvedi men ti taI-Ii gi
saggament j isti pu law i r-rikuza f'dawk i I-kazij iet fejn 1-Im
hallef ikun esprima ruh u fuq i l-meritu. H uma biss f'dawk i l-
kazijiet I i 1- legislatur haseb I i setghet tkun n ieqsa dik 1-
imparzjalita oggetti va jew soggett iva fil-gudikant, jew almenu
J i kien jidher jew sospettat Ii kienet nieqsa d i k 1-imparzjalita
fuq il-bazi ta'
ju_ ::i:tice must be seen to be done. Fi l-kazijiet 1-ohra, mhux biss
ma hassx d i n in-n ecessita pero esk lud i ha b'mod tali Ii lanqas
l I mhallef stess ma seta' ja stjeni;
Fuq dan i i -pu nt ghalhekk d i n i l-Qorti m hijiex ghaI kol l
ox kon kord i mad-dec izjoni tal-Qort i ta' I-Appel l K ri m inali u
ma' d i k ta l-Pri m 'A wla ta l-Qorti Civi l i . Mh ux hekk invece
ghad-dritt I i kell u I-appellant taht 1-ottika kosti tuzzjonal i u m
hux taht dik ta' 1-ord i nament ord i narju proc':edu ra l i biex jagi
xxi quddiem il Pri m 'Awla tal-Qorti Civi l i sede Kostituzzjonali
b'dan I-i iment. Dan i r-ri medju pero k ien jeh tieg I i jig i u til izzat
mill- appellant f'waqtu u a tempo vergine u m h ux wara I i
ddecida I i kien aktar konvenjen t i ghal i h I i 1-gu ri jkom pii
ji nstema' m ii l-istess l m hallef biex "jiehu c-c':ans";
11-princ': i pj i fuq en unzjati d war ir-rikuza ta' I-I mhal lef
biss f'k azijiet fejn i k u n ga espri ma ruh u fuq i I-meritu tal-kaz
tid her I i h ija 1-li nja I i giet meh ud a m i i l-Qorti Kosti tuzzjona ii
fiI-kawza Ca rua na vs Gerada, deciza fit-18 ta' Ottubru,
1968, fejn gie ri ten ut:
"Di n hi ragu n i ghal kol l ox gd ida I i ma ti nvol vi bl
-ebda m od iz-zewg l m hallfi n I i rigward taghhom inghatat 1-
ec':c':ezzjoni d war i r-r i k uzazzjoni. Ghad il l i h uma kien u membri
tal-Qorti ta' I-Appel l I i awtorizzat 1-eseku zzjoni , qatt ma k ien
hemm da part i
L-EWWEL PART! 205
taghhom, jew tal-Qorti ta' I-Appell, ebda espressjon i ta'
opinjoni fuq dik i l-kwistjoni ";
W iehed jista' ukol l jasal ghal dawn 1-istess pri nci pji m i l
l qari tas-sentenza tal-Qorti Kostituzzjonali fl-ism ijiet Generoso
Sam m ut vs Onorevoli Prim Mi nistru;
ls-sitwazzjoni fejn 1-istess Imhallef ikun ha decizjonijiet
pre-proc':esswali mbaghad ji kkunsidra 1-kaz fuq il-meritu giet
ikkunsidrata f diversi sentenzi tal-Qorti Ewropeja. Fl-ewwel
kaz ta' rilevanza De Cubber vs Belgium (26 ta' Ottubru, 1984),
il-Qorti kkunsidrat I i kien hem m ksu r ta' 1-artikolu 6 tal
Konvenzjoni. Kif pero j sostnu 1-awturi Jacobs and Whi te -
European Convention on Human Rights (2nd Ed ition, pagna
140); ,
"The structural independence emphasised in De Cubber is
being eroded. Jn Northier there was seen to be no difficulty in a
juvenile judge being involved as investigating judge, review
judge and trial judge in the same case";
1 1-principju ta' De Cubber pero kienu diga bdew jin bid lu
mal-kaz Hauschildt vs Den ma rk (25 ta' Mejju, 1986), f'liema
kaz tidher l i bdiet issir id-d isti nzjoni.bejn dawk il-kazijiet fejn 1-
l mhal l ef i kun biss pre-trial judge u kazijiet ohra fejn
jippartecipa attivament fl-investigazzjoni. Hekk jghidu Janis,
Kay u Brad ley fil-ktieb European Human Rights Law fejn
j itkellmu fuq The Impartial Tribunal (pagna 406) (Clarendon
Press - oxford 1995):
"In late cases the Court has further developed a
framewo rk for dealing with these questions. Jn Hauschild t vs
Denmark it held that the mere fact that the Danish Judge had
made a preliminary decision in a criminal case, including
 - - - ervi

10. 1.

206 QORTI KOSTITUZZJONALI 207

L-EWWEL PA RT!
decisions on the custody of the accused, did not, under article 6, fejn taht i l-kriterju oggettiv ta' 1-imparzjalita tal-gudikant
prevent such a judge from presiding at the trial. In Denmark, gie ri tenut il l i 1-fatt Ii 1-lmhallef ha certa decizjonijiet
unlike Belgium, there is no investigating judge. Investigation
and prosecution are conductedentirely by police and prel i minari ma kinux sufficjenti biex jaffettwaw dan il-kriterju 1illeri
prosecutors. The p re-trial judge merely decides if sufficient ta ' 1-imparzjalita. Ghalkemm il-punti legali ma kinux ghal lnore
evidence has been produced tojustify detention. Ordinarily this kollox simi li, 1-istess prin tipji perc), gew ikkonfermali fil-kaz
would not give rise to the same apprehension as those held by Padova ni vs Italy, deciza 26 ta' Frar, 1993:
the application in De Cubber";
"As to the objective test, the applicant's fear of lack of i - Pc
impartiality, based on the measures taken by the Magistrate a
_ . Fi r-rigward tal-Magistrat Inkwirent i u kif jopera dan fis before the trial, could not be regarded as objectively justified'' ;
sistema legal i taghna, dan i i-punt qam fi l-kawza kostituzzjonal 1 Civi
i Sant vs Ku m missa rju ta l-Pulizija (d eciza fit-2 ta' num
L-istess princi pji gew enu nzjati fil-kaz Sairava de lbih ii
Mejju, I 990). Dan pero mh uwiex ii-punt i nvol ut f'd i n i l - iminc:
kawza fejn 1- l m ha l lef I i ppresjeda 1-gu ri m 'ghand u Ca rvalho, deciza fl-24 ta' April, 1994; ;isti f
ebda fu nzjoni ta' 1rdinc:
i n vestigatur. 11-prin ti pji enu nzjati fil-kaz Hauschi ldt gew )OSid
Fi l-konkl uijoni, u in konnessjoni ma' dan 1-aggravju, din 1tija
segwiti Sain t Ma rie vs France ( 16 ta' Dicembru , I 992), fejn il-Qorti tixtieq taghmel referenzaghal l-kaz Stanford vs The ?ghu,
1- istess pri nci pji gew ri bad uti illi s-semplici fatt I i 1-lmhallef U nited Ki ngd om (deciza mil l-Qorti Ewropeja fit-23 ta' Frar, (ostit
ikun ga ha deci zjonijiet prel iminari i nkl uzi decizjonijiet 1994) fejn gie ritenut: ,Ugij
dwar il l iberta provvisorja ta' 1-imputat ma kell hiex
taffettwa 1- im parzjal i ta oggettiva ta' 1-Imha llef, hl ief bhal l- :kull
1 kull
kaz ta' Hauschi ldt fejn kien hemm cirkosta nzi spetjali (u "... in the present case, neither the applicant nor the legal c
dana ghax r dak i l-kaz "the challenged judge had made repres entatives sought to bring his hearing difficulties to the tkonf
JI dil<
repeated rulings under a particular section of the attention of the trial judge at any stage throughout the six-day 'a ko
Administration of Justice Act which required proof of a hearing. Counsel, who had lengthy experience in handling ; Ord
particularly confirmed suspicion" criminal cases, chosefor tactical reasons to remain silent about tikol
( m i l l-istess atturi u tjoe Janis, Kay u Brad ley - European the difficulties and there was nothing to indicate that the ' xhle
Hu man R ights Law, pagna 406)); applicant disagreed with this decision"; hagi
1hr
a
Hek k uk ol l gie ritenut fil -kaz Fej vs Austria , deciza fl- Forsi f'dan i l-kaz i l-Qrati taghna marru ferm oltre dan il ezar
24 ta' Frar, I 993: printi pju, ghax dan 1-aggravj u u aggravji ohra ta' I-appel lant !t - k
gew ikk unsidrati mi ll-Qorti ta' I-A ppel l Kriminal i minkejja lja q1
dak deciz fi1-kaz Stanford : ;ocec
"Having regard to the extent and nature of the pre -trial 1m xi
ostit1
measures issue the Court did not find that the applicant 'sfears
as to the Judges ' impa rtiality were objectively justified "; "In addition the Court of App eal could not reasonably et ti
have been expected in the circumstances to correct an alleged t igh
llli l-1
1UX n
)ntrc
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 208 QORTI KOSTITUZZJONA LI 209
L-EWWEL PART! :Details
shortcom ing in the trial proceedings which had not been raised . ragonevolment tasal ghall-istess verdett. Fl-istess hin, pero,
before the trial judge"; dan 1-aggravju ma giex tant ikkunsidrat minn dik il-Qorti mill-
aspett
Ghar-ragun iji et kol lha fuq moghtija din il-Qorti jidhrilha kostituzzjonali tieghu, ezami Ii, minkejja Ii forsi ma kienx fil
Ii dan 1-aggravj u ghandu jk un respi nt u huwa ghal hekk michud; kompetenza taghha, xorta wahda sar m inn dik il-Qorti fir
rigward ta' 1-aggravji 1-ohra;
11-Qorti sejra issa ti kk unsidra r-raba' aggravju ta' !
appel lant. Dan fil-feh ma taghha, h uwa 1-aktar aggravju serju I Ghal hekk , til waqt I i dik il-Qorti rriteniet:
i qajjem I-appellant. Taht dan 1-aggravju ji lmenta mill-fatt il l i
hei< k k if kien sejj er ji bda jaghti x-xh ieda tieghu, in- "I l li d in il-Qorti mi nghajr ezitazzjon i ta' xejn tara I i dan 1-
notamenti koll ha I i k ien ha dwar ix-x h ieda m igjuba mill-pro
aggravju ta ' I-appel lant h uwa fondat" (pagna 40);
sekuzzjoni gew meh uda mi n nu. Dan effettwa serjament id-
difiza tieghu. Il guri kien wiehed twi l u, kien ovvju, I i r-rizultat
. , --
' 1
....
k ien sejjer ikun wara Ii kkunsidrat: /ME 82 (19!
ibbazat fi l-parti 1-kbi ra fuq il-kred i b bi l i ta tax-xhieda
moghtija . K ien ghalhekk essenzjal i ghal i h I i jk u n j ista' ji "ll-konkl uzjoni ta' d i n il-Qorti ghalhekk hija I i f'dan i
rribad itti xi r rigward saret irreiwlarita matul il-kawza fit-termini ta'
1-
x hieda I i ngabet mi l l-prosek uzzjon i, u dan seta' jaghml u arti kolu 50 1 (I) (b) tal-Kod ici Kriminal i , Kap. 12 u ghalhekk p/11/199
E
biss i l kwi stjoni I i tibqa ' hija jekk essenzjal ment jistax jinghad Ii
bi l l i jagh mel referenza ghan-notamenti I i kien ha. Di pi u, fuq dan id-d igriet ikkawza ammi nistrazzjoni hazina tal-gustizzja u onstitutlor
ordn i ta l-prosek uzzjoni, gew issekwestrat i 1-kotba tal-l igi jammontax ghal dik il-gravita Ii twassa l ghall -miscarriage of 'glus Carm
u k wa l u n k we notamen ti ohra, b'referenza ghall-guri, I i kell u justice, aspett dan I i sejjer jigi kk unsidrat aktar 'ii quddiem"
fic cella. ls-serjeta ta ' dan 1-aggravju h uwa wiehed ta ' (pagna 42); \aetano BL
dritt k osti t uzzjonal i sostanti v pero mhux hekk biss ghax f dan ,enerali
il-kaz id-demarkazzjoni bejn id-dritt kostituzzjonal i u dak kri mi 1
nali fir-rigward ta ' smigh xieraq issi r anqas tenwa. Dan ghal Finalment waslet ghal l-konkl uzjoni I i dan il- fatt ma l
iex, fil fehma ta' d i n i l -Qorti , kif jigi spj egat aktar tard f d i wassal x ghall-gravi ta ta l i I i kien hem m miscarriage of justice )roga - Ko
n i s senten za, anke persu na tant ovvjament hatja ta' reat u al I ura waslet ghal 1-konk l uzjoni : lmigh Xier
ghandha ukol l i kol l ha 1-possibbi l i ta I i tigi meghjun a fid-d I-Prim'
ifiza taghha bl aktar mod am pju; "F'dan i l -kuntest ghalhekk d in il-Qorti tasal ghall Aw
konkluzjoni I i bl-irregolaritajiet kollha I i setghu saru f'dan il 'icembru,
' guri u I i effettivament uhud mi nnhom , kif inghad, h uma lkors tar-
Effetti vamen t i l"Qorti ta' I-A ppe l l Krim ina l i,
meta k k u nsid rat dan i i-punt, sabet I i kien hem m irregolarita stabbiliti, kien hemm , ciononostante, kaz qawwi bizzejjed l
leraq fl
pr
f'dak Ii sar. Din 1-irregolarita giet mi nn ha kku ndan nata f kontra I-appellant biex b'gurija ragonevol i , proprjament diretta, ; korrent k
termini i bsin . Hija pero rriteniet i ll i m inkejja d i n 1- k ienet xorta wahda tasal ghal dikjarazzjoni ta ' htija" , artikolu
irregolarita ma k ien sar ebda miscarriage a/ justi ce fi l-kaz ta' (r i peti zzjoni tal-kwotazzjon i a pagna 99); f ap.
1-im putat u I i kwal unkwe gurija ragonevol i fuq i l-fatti 101,
'leposizzjo
esposti q udd iem ha k ienet hhux
1 fil-p
!lenx part
!IOA tal-
Kc
Lproduzzj
 ik 1-ordin l-persuna reat kor "\Or"C'llltn;t

:khieda me fsta ting s-sustan jikjarazzj

210 QORTI KOST!TUZZJONA LI
ln-notament ta' I-appel lant h uma esebi ti bhala Dok . R.1
a fol. 63 et sequitur tal -process . L-istess appel lant hekk xehed
dwar dan 1-incid net qudd iem il-Pri m'Aw l a fis-sed uta tas-27
ta' Ottubru, 1 994:
"Meta kont q ieghed nixhed fi l-guri ghax jiena xhedt, il
prosekuzzjoni kienet tal bet l ill-Qorti jiex jitnehhewli d
dok ument i , i l-karti kol lha I i kel li fil-post fejn kont qieghed
norqod fi l-Qorti . Niftakar I i 1-avukat Dr. Vi ncent
DeGaetano, i l lum l mhal lef, i dur fuq il-Marixxa l l i u jenfasi zzal
hom biex i mo.rru u jaraw I i ma ji bqagh l i xejn hem m hekk. Fi
l-fatt k ul l ma kel l i u 1-aktar i l l i kont ,q iegged n uri k ien u n-
notamenti I i hadt tax-x hieda tal-prosek uzzjon i I i k ien tnehhiel i
mi n n hem mhekk u sibt ruhi I i dak kol l u I i gham i lt biex i n
kun nista' nipptepara d difiza tal-gu ri I i k ien dam sejjer xi xah
rejn qabel dan 1-istadju ma kel l i x gha l x 'hiex ni rreferi" (fol.
85 ta t-process);
Dwar dan I-i nc iden t xehed ukoll id-d ifensur precedenti I
i kel l u I-appel lan t, Dr. Joseph Galea De bono, fis-sed uta tad- 19
ta ' Jan nar, 1995. H uwa xehed fuq i n-notamenti I i kienu gew
mehuda m i l l -appel l ant wara d-d igriet tal-Qorti K rimi
nali , i m baghad kom pla x-xh ieda tieghu b'dan i i-mod:
"Appena spiccat is-sessjoni fil-break , fis-1 .00 ta' filghodu
u 1-akkuzat k ien se j mur joqghod bi l-q ieghda f'postu, ghax
hem m im ur joqghod fil -break ta' fi lghodu, i l-prosek utur Dr.
DeGaetano dar fuq il-Marixxal l i u q al ilhom:
"Marix xal l i i nzl u isfel u nehhul u k u ll ma ghand u ghax
jekk se jm ur fi l-kam ra t iegli LI ma jridx i kol l LI notament
hemm hekk";
ghax natLiral ment hekk gie interpretat dan id-dgi riet tal
Qort i . u nzi l na isfel jien' u 1-akkuzat fi l -jlat tal-kustodja
fejn k ien ji nzam m 1-akkuzat ma' t l iet Mar ixxal l i I i
dawn
L-EW WEL PA RTI 211
nt I
sbarazzawl u 1-kamra kol l ha mi n n kul l 1-icken karta jew folja
Ii kel l LI ghax kel l u hafna karti hem m hekk. Kel l LI 1-kum
pilazzjoni koll ha, kellu dak I i lahaq ha waqt i l-guri, kel lu
anke xi kotba biex jistudja u anke jaghmel referenza ghal ihom
" (fol. 263-264 ta I-process);.
Skond 1-istess xh ud d i n it-tnehhija tan-notamenti fixklet
ukoll li l LI serjament fid-d ifiza tieghu ta' I -appel lant;
F i n -nota ta' osservazzjonijiet responsi va taghhom, 1-
intimati jsostn LI I i waqt ix-xh ieda tieghu quddiem il-Qorti
Kri m inal i, 1-impLi tat ma wera, fl-ebda m ument, ix-xewqa I ............
i
jaghme l referenza ghal xi notamenti. Xehed i n ezam i LI i n
kontro-ezam i mi nghajr ma ghamel din it-tal ba. Isostnu ukol l Ii
d-decizjoni tal -Qorti Kr imi nali ma ki n i tx i rregolari. Pero,
- - '.: VO i
anke kiek u kienet m'it.rrizulta zgur 1-ebda unfairness kontra 1-
i mputat bhala ri zLi ltat ta' dan peress I i dak deciz fil-konfront
ta' 1- im putat kell u ja ppl ika fil-konfront tax-xhieda kollha.
Huma ji kkon k l ud u b'dan i i-mod dwar 1-il rnent:
'I
'
"para. 16 - Ghaldaqstant i n kwantu ghal dan 1-ilment
'
partikolar i ghandu jigi rrilevat I i: ti
I
\Is
ld-decizjoni tal-Qorti Krim inal-i tas- 16 ta' Frar, 1993
qatt ma pprekl udiet l i ll-akkLizat I i jkollLI access ghall-kitba
msernmija fl-arti kol LI 583 tal-Kod ici Krimi nali LI anzi 1ry
espressament irriservat favur tieghu tal i access;
Wara d-decizjoni msemmija fl-ebda stadju tax-xhieda ta' 1-
akkLizat ma gie rri levat l ill-Qorti Krim i nal i, la m ill-akkuzat
stess LI lanqas mid-d'ifen sur tieghu, I i 1-akkuzat kellu 1-htiega
jew ri ed I i jko l l u access jew j i rrefer i ghal xi kitba I i
tinkwadra fl-arti kol u 583 fuq imsem mi ghall-iskop imsemm
i fl-i stess art iko l LI; u
 212
QORTI KOSTITUZZJON ALI
Fi l -kors tad-d eposi zzjon i ta' 1-akkuzat, la 1-istess
akkuzat u anqas id-d i fensur t iegh u ma ssollevaw I i x i hadd
kien ipprek l uda l ill-akk uzat bi vjolazzjoni tad-decizjoni
msemmija, m i n n xi k itba jew dok ument I i kien jirritje ni Ii ji
nkwadra fl arti kol u 583 tal-Kod ici Krim inali" (fol. 529 ta l
-process);
Di pi u, 1-appel I ant inghata 1-opportunita kollha
biex ji kkond uci d-d ifiza tieghu mi nghajr xk iel u
ghalhekk dak st i pu l at m i ll-Kum m issjon i Ewropej a fil-
kazijiet Can vs A ustria u fi l-kaz Jespers gew osservati f'dan i l-
kaz;
Dan ii-pu nt gie profondamen t d i battut fit-trattazzjoni Ii
saret quddiem d i n i l-Qorti fejn parti kolarment fuq' domandi
specifici ta' 1-Agent President, 1-argumentazzjoni legali svolgiet
dwar i 1-principj u ta' smigh xieraq u I- equality of arms bejn i 1-
partiji et mi l-lat kost i tuzzjona l i mill-banda 1-wahda, kif
possi bbi lment d isti nt i legalment mi ll-kuncett i ta' miscarriage
of justice u ht ija o meno ta ' 1-im putat m i l-lat 1-iehor u cjoe
dak kri m i nali. G iet issollevata ukol l i l-mansjon i tad-dove ri I i
kell ha 1-Qorti ta ' I-A ppell K r im i nal i u kell hiex ti ndaga
1-aspett k ost i tuzzjonal i tas-sm igh xieraq. Dawn i l-punti
pero jigu
am pl ifikati aktar tard f'd i n is-sentenza 'ghax is-soluzzjoni
taghhom tista', fi l-fehma ta' din il-Qorti, twassal ghad
d eterm i nazzjoni ta ' dan 1-aggravju. Anke f'dan 1-istadju
pero, j iswa I i parti zghira ta' d i n i ttrattazzjoni fuq dan 1-
aggravju tigi
kkwotata f'din is-sentenza:
"L-akkuzat m h u x biss ma thalliex juza n-notamenti I i
ha waqt i l-guri , waqt I i k ien qed jixhed, imma tnehhewl u koll
ha zbarazzaw l u 1-kamra tieghu, ic-cel la tieghu, biex hu ma
jkun x jista' juza 1-ebda notament u dana bniedem I i jrid ji xhed
bid dettal fuq fatti Ii graw I 0 sni n qabel" (trattazzjoni tal-
Professur Dr. I an Refalo);
De
L-EWW EL PA RT! 213
J d-disti nzjon i fuq imsemmija bejn i l-kuncett kri minali u
dak kostituzzjonali ssir ukoll mi11-appellant fir-ri kors ta' 1-
appell tieghu. F'dan ir-rikors giet ukoll ikkritikata s-sentenza tal-
Prim 'Awla, Sede Kostituzzjonal i, ghax naqset mi Ii i tiddisti
ngwi bejn files governattivi u tal-Qorti mi nn files personali ta'
I-appell ant tl -apprezzament li gham let tal-kazistika tal-Qorti
Ewropeja;
lnvece, skond 1-intimati, minkejja Ii 1-Qorti ta' I-Appell
--
Kri mi nal i sabet irregolarita fis-sekwestru tan-notamenti, mhux
kull i rregolarita necessarjament twassal ghal xi lezjoni ta' dritt
kostituzzjonali . Huma jsostnu li I -appellant ma Imenta qatt wara : vc
d-digriet tal-Qorti Kriminali fejn ma giex l ilu permess li
jaghmel uzu m inn dawk i n-notameti I i ji n kwad raw ruhhom
taht 1-artiko l u 583 ta l-Kap. 12, liema dokumenti 1-Qorti Kri
minali kienet espresS\:iment irriservat l u d-dritt ghal 1-uzu
taghhom. Skond hum a dan k i en ghaliex din kienet parti mit-
tatti ka uzata m i l l-appellant fir-rigward ta' dan 1-ilment bhal
fir-rigward ta' lmenti ohra f din il-kawza. lnoltre 1-legali tieghu
kellu dritt ghal dawn in-notamenti, ma giex imcahhad minnhom, v
u anke abbazi tal-kai:i stika tal-Qorti Ewropeja, dan h uwa
sufficjenti biex '.I
jassigu ra d-dritt ghas-smigh xieraq;
11
ird
11-Pr im'A wla tal-Qort i Civi l i, Sede Kostituzzjonal
i, ikk unsid rat dan 1-aggravju (pagna 36 et sequitur tas-
sentenza
appel lata). Ghamlet id-disti nzjoni bejn id-dritt ta' 1-akkuzat I . a
i f
jkoll u access ghad-dokumenti kollha u ghan-notamenti tieghu
biex ikun jista' jorganizza u ji pprepara d-difiza tieghu u d-dritt
tieghu I i juzahom waqt I i jkun qed jixhed. Ikkonkludiet illi 1-fatt
Ii dawn i n-notamenti kienu ghad-d isposizzjoni ta' 1-akkuzat il
hi n kollu, hlief meta k ien qed jixhed, u 1-fatt I i dawn kien u
ukoll ghad-disposizzjoni tad-difensur t ieghu, k ien
determinanti biex ji ppermett i l i ll-akkuiat jorga ni zza d-d i fiza
tiegh u. Dan ! argument ta l -Prim 'Awl a pero ma giex segwit
sa 1-ezitu final i
tiegh u. U dan ghaliex hija rriteniet:

2 14
QORTI KOSTITUZZJONALI
"F'kull kaz ti bq a' dejjem il-konsiderazzjoni ahharija u
prudenti I i biex wiehed jiddecid i fina lment jekk kienx hemm
jew le vjolazzjon i tad-dri tt fondarriental i ghal sm igh xieraq
wielied k el l u jezami na u japprezza 1-iter kol l u tal-proced
uri kri mi nal i I i ghal ihom kien assoggettat i r-ri korrent. U f'dan
1- apprezzament h ija determ inan ti 1-fehma tal-Qorti ta' I-
Appel l K r i m i nal i i ll i, k if fuq d iga accennat, ma rrizul talhiex
i l l i fil-kaz taht ezam i kienu jirrizultaw elemen ti ta' gravita tal i
- inkl uza 1- i rregolarita appena d isk ussa - i l l i jiskosstaw i l-
konvi nzjoni tal
gud ikant i ll i ma k ienx hem m miscarriage of justice i n kwant u
1-. Qorti k ienet sodisfatta ill i gu rija ragonevol i ma setghetx
ma tasa l x gha ll- istess konk l uzjoni
ta' d i kjarazzjon i ta'
htija nonost ante n -n uqqasijiet pre-skontrati" (pagna 93
tas-sen tenza);
Din i l-Qorti terga' ti rri marka k if diga rri markat
u ti rri marka aktar 'ii qudd iem I i dan i r-ragu nament ta l-Pri m
'Awla m h u wiex korrett. J i gi ri petut Ii 1-fatt I i persuna ma
tinghatax 1- opport u ni ta kol l ha biex ti kkond uc i d-d ifiza
taghha, m 'gliandha x 'taq sam xejn m il-lat kost i tuzzjonal i ma
kem m hem m provi k ontra dak 1-istess akk uzat, I iema provi,
i n varjab bilment , ghand hom iwassl u ghall-li tija tiegh u . A nke
1-aktar krim ina l atroci ghand u ji ngha ta 1-faci l itajiet koll ha
biex ji kkond uci d d ifiza t iegh u. U hawn 1-aspett kosti
tuzzjonal i jm ur oltre m inn
dak pu rament kri minal i I i h uwa m m i rat biss lejn il-kuncett
ta' jek k k ienx hem m miscarriage ojjustice fil-kaz in ezami;
l k k u nsid rat:
!Ii i m i n n ezam i tat-traskri zzjon i tax-xh ied a ta l -guri (
Vol. X, f'ol. I 59- I 78) j i rri zul ta i l l i dak i i-pu nt gie dd ibatt
u t fit-tul q ud d iem i l -Qort i K ri mi nal i. Saret referenza gt1all-
provved i ment rele van ti la l -l igi u dana appart i mi r-referen
za I i saret ghal l pra tt i k a adoperat a fi l-Qrat i tagh na dwar
daw k i n notament i I i scta' jagh mel referenza glial ihom
xh ud u taht l iema
Ioetat
L-EWW EL PA RT!
215
kond izzjon ijiet. F'da n i l-k untest saret u kol l id-disti nzjoni
bejn notament i d war x h i eda precedent i u notamenti ohra;
l k k u nsid rat:
l l!i d-d i griet tal-Qorti K ri m inali dwar d i k i l-materja
isem m i d ivers i arti kol i tal- Kod ici K ri m i nal i u tal-K od ici
ta' Orga ni zza zzjon i u Proced u ra Civi l i. Fost dawn 1-aktar
relevanti h u ma 1-art i ko l u 634 (2) ta l-K od ici K ri rn i nal i '.:\,/Q\...\
.-----
I i jidd isponi Ii
disposi zzjonijiet tal-Li gi dwar ix-x hieda jgt10ddu ghall-akk
uzat I i jaghti x-x h ieda tiegtrn bi l-gurame nt. Dan 1-artikolu,
mehud ma' 1-art i kol u 645 ta' l-istess Kodici Kri m inal i (Ii
ma giex i msem m i m id-digriet tal-Qort i K riminal i ) iwassl u
ghall-arti kol u 538 tal -Kod ici ta' Organizzazzjon i u Proced ura
Civil i I i huwa 1- rv
aktar arti kol u r,e leva n ti ghat d in i l-kwi stjon i. U dan
ghal iex 1- arti kol u 645. ta l -l(od ici K ri m i na l i jist ipula
I i diversi prov ved imen ti ta l -Kod ici ta' Organi zzazzjoni u
Proced ura C'i vil i, fosthom 1-istess art i kol u 583: '
ords
"jghodd u uk ol l ghal l -Qrati ta l-Gust izzja Kri m inali"; "
"'ar
L-arti kol u 583 tal-Kod ici ta' Organi zzazzjoni u Proced
ura Civi l i, Kap. 1 2 ta l-Ligijiet ta' Mal ta hekk ji pprovd i:
"l x-x h ud jista' jiffriska 1-memorja t iegliu b' kitba
magti m ula mi n n u n n i fsu jew m i n n liadd id10r taht id-d
i rezzjoni tieghu, fiz-zm ien I i fi h i l-fatt fi.1-kwistjoni jk un
gara, jew m i n n ufi h wara, jew f'kul l zm ien iehor meta 1-
fatt kien frisk f motibu u h uwa k ien jaf I i 1-fatt kien gie
mfisser sewwa f d i k il k i tba; iida f dak i l-kaz i l-ki tba
ghand ha tigi esebita u tista' ta raha 1-part i ku ntra1ja";
l k k u n si d rat:
 216 QORTI KOSTITUZZJONA LI
!Ii i fl-ewwel lok huwa ri levanti I i jigi ritenut I i gew
issekwestrat i m h ux biss i n-notamenti I i ghamel 1-imputat
dwar i x-x h ied a tal-prosek uzzjoni i m ma anke notamenti ohra
I i specifi katament i.gur seghu jaqghu taht dan 1-artikolu 583,
Kap. 1 2. H u wa ukoll r i levan t i f'd i n i l-kwistjon i i l l i appl ikati
1- provved imenti tal-Proced ura Civil i, i l-partijiet ghandhcim
id
d ri tt i k u n u prei.enti waqt is-smigh tal-kawza kif Ii zgur
ghandu d ri tt 1-im putat. Ghaldaqstant 1-artikol u 641 tal-Kodici
Kriminali Ii ja ppl i ka ghal x h ieda ohra I i gie msem m i mi ll-
Qorti Krim inali, I i dawn m 'gtrnnd hom x i k un u prei.enti waq t
is-sm igh tal-kawza, i.gu r I i ma ja p pl ikax ghall-akk ui.at. lr-ragu
n i ghal dan hija ovvja. Fi lwaq t I i 1-parti f'kawi.a civil i, u
1-im putat f'kawza k ri m i na l i, m 'ghandhom x ji xhd u hl ief fuq
i l-fatti u xejn aktar, m hem mx d u bbju I i I-process gud
izzjarju f'zewg kam pi
ji k kon tjen i element tal-kontrad ittorju. 11-fatti jistghu jigu
spjega ti jekk m h ux b 'referenza ghal xhieda ta' xh ud precedenti
im ma bi l-konoxxenza ta' d i n ix-xh ieda - u m inn hawn jinbed
id
dritt tal-parti ghall-prezen za taghha waqt is-sm igh u dana
k u n tra rjament ghal l-kaz tax-xhud normal i . Di pi u, waqt I i
huwa korrett dak I i jso stn L1 1-intimati, I i fiz-i.m ien meta d-deposi
zzjoni ta ' 1-a k k uzat t k un sospiza u jk L1n fic-cella tieghu, h uwa
1-istess ghad u x h ud, fl-istess waqt per6, ghal da n i x-x hud jappl
ikaw i l provved i menti ta ' 1-arti kol u 538 tal -K ap. 12 fuq i
kkwotat, u gha lhek k, jek k baqa ' xh ud LI h uwa rnarbut bi l-kondi
zzjon ijiet ta ' x h u d, gha nd u pero 1-istess d rittijiet, u cjoe I i ja
ghmel referenz a
ghal notamenti I i jistghu jiffriskaw i l-memorja tieghu taht il
k ond izzjon ijiet ta' dan 1-istess artikol u;
Jid her i ll i dan id-d ri tt ta' 1-im putat fi l-kaz prei.enti gie
sa cert u pun t salvagwardat bid -d igriet tal-Qorti K rim inali.
Bhala fall, per6 , j i rrizulta I i gara Ii fuq istruzzjonij iet
tal prosek L1zzjon i, dawn in-notamen t i gew mehuda m il l-
pussess ta' 1-akk ui.at. Di pi u, dawn i n-notamen t i, dokumenti
u sahansitra
kotba legal i, gew mehuda l il l-akkuzat m i l l -Marixxall tal-Qorti
meta saret i I-perk wizizzjon i tac-eel la tieghu;
L-EW W EL PA RTl 217
gemen
Ki f sewwa rri markat il-Qorti ta' I-A ppel l K ri mi nal i ,
1- ak k uzat , skond 1-artikolu 463 tal-K ap. 9, ghand u dritt ghat
traskrizzjoni tax- xhieda kif ghand u dritt Ii jinghata kopja ta' 1-
atti LI tad-dok umen ti kol lha tal-process (art ikolu 519, Kap. 9);
O:v vjament, fost id-dok umenti mehuda kien hem m dawn
1- atti. Logi kament bl-istess mod I i 1-akk uzat ghand u dritt
ghal kopj i tat-traskrizzjoni tax-xhieda, ghandu ukol l id-
dritt Ii
jaghmel notamenti ta' din ix-xhieda. Ghal hekk a bazi ta' 1-
art i kol u 583 ghandu jko l l u d-d ri tt j i ffriska 1-memorja tieghu
b'dawk id-dok umenti. Dan h uwa 1-unik u mod kif dawn 1-artikoli
ghand hom ik u nu legal ment i nterpretat i ; :;E: VOi
L-isko p ta' 1-artikol u 583 huwa I i x-xhieda ta' persuna,
parti jew le f kawza, tku n genwi na u mhux ikkontaminata, u
biex m inn d i n i-xhieda tohrog i l-verita tal-fa ti. Huwa i:gur illi
1-k otba tal-l igi ma setghux jass istu l i l l-im putat biex dan 1-
iskop jigi st ra l cjat. Di n i l-Qorti j idh ri l ha I i 1-akkuzat,
avukat nu n n ifsu, ma k el l ux ji gi i m ped ut m i l l i jaghmel
referenza ghal dawk i l-kotba biex i k un j i sta' jghi n fid-d i tiza t
iegtrn n n ifsu . l x x hieda tiegh u k ienet wahda mi ll-armi f d i n
id-d ifiza u ghal hekk kel l ha tkun bl-akta r mod i ffaci l i tata u m
hux imfixkl a. Din ghandha. tkun it-tifsi ra I i ghandha ti nghata
tal-frazi "facilitajiet xierqa" msemm ija fis-subi nci z (b) tas- is
subartikol u 6 ta' 1- artikol u 39 tal-Kostituzzjon i, liema frazi
hija identika ghat dik uza la fis-subi nciz (b) tas-subarti kol u 3
ta' 1-artikol u 6 tat-Kap. 319 tal - Ligijiet ta' Mal ta (Konven
zjon i Ewropeja);
Di n i l-Qort i ghal hek k jid h ri lha I i 1-perkwizizzjoni tan
notamenti u kotba ohra ta' I-appel l ant u dan wara I i kien ga
beda' j ixhed u m inghajr pre-avvi z, zgur I i fixklet ix-xhieda
moghtija mi nnu i n d ifiza, sew mi l-lat fattwali, sew m inn dak
psi kologi k u, u dana pa rt ikolarment ghax dawk in-notamenti Ii
gew ippreparati m i n nu biex jaghmel 1-istess ditha ma ki
nui<
 _-:_:_...-. -._.z:. _ _::--; ;_::-,,,;; --- ---
218
QORTI KOSTITUZZJONALI
necessarjament j i rreferu ghal xhi eda precedentement
moghtija; l k k unsid rat:
Din il-Qorti ezam i nat ukoll il-kazistika 1-aktar ricenti tal
K u m m issjoni u ta l-Qort i Ewropeja I i uhud m innha
giet i msem m ija m i l l -part ijiet. B 'mod kronologi k u:
Fi l-kaz .Jaspers vs Belgi u m, deciz m i l l-K um mi ssjoni
fl- I 4 ta ' Dicem bru, 198 1 gie ri lenut fi l-pream bol u:
"This provision lists in a non-exhaustive manner a certain
numher <l rights in the area ol Criminal Law which constitute
essential elements of the general notion C!f afair trial contained
in article 6 para. I . ft is also the oriKin of the concept - of
equality olarms";
Fl-opi njo ni tagh ha 1-K um m issjoni rrimarkat ill i:
"In particular, the Commission takes the view that the
'jc1ci/ities " which everyone charged with a criminal offence
should enioy. include the opport unity to acquaint himselffor the
pumse .1 r l preparing his defence with the results of
i111c'.1tigations carried out durinR the proceedings.
Furthermore the' Commission hos already recognised that
although a right of access to the prosecution file i.1 nut
expressly guaranteed by the Convention, such a right can be
inlerred from article 6 para. 3
(hf' ;
A k!ar ta rd, 1-istess K u m m issjon i osservat:
"( I) Jn short. article 6 para . 3 (h) recognises the right of
th<! accused lo ha11e at his disposal, fur the p urpsoes of
)etai\S
L-EW W EL PA RT! 219
exhonorating himself" or of obtaining a reduction in his sentence
all relevant elements that have been or could be collected by the
competent authorities . The Commission considers that if the
element in question is a document, access to that document is a
necessary facility (facilite necessaire) if. as in the pre sent case,
it concerns acts of which the defendant is accus_ed the credibility
o.l testimony etc.";
11-kai Can vs Austria, decii. fl- 14 ta Dicernbru, 1983
mi l l-K um missjoni Ewropeja ma tantx jghi n fis-soluzzjoni
ta' d i n i l-vertenza , peress I i k i en ji rrigwarda d-dri tt ta' 1-
- -
akkuiat biex ji kkonsu l ta mad-d ifensur tieghu mi nghajr
-
supervi zjoni waqt I i kien deten ut (1-opi njoni ta l-
Kummissjoni giet ikkon fermata b 'deciij oni tal-Qorti \1
E wropeja fit-30 ta'
Settem bru, 1985);
11-kai F. vs U n i ted Ki ngdom, deciz mill-K um missjoni
fit- 1 3 ta ' Mejj u, I 986. Dan il-kaz ghand u simi laritajiet
-
--
ghall-kaz prezenti. peress I i k ien ji rrigwarda perk wi zizzjoni
\...\.
0 .l
ta files u rape recordings m id-dar ta 1-i mputat, l iema files
kienu gew ippreparati m innu ghad-d i fiia tiegh u. II -punt Ii
tqajjem f'dan i l kai pen), ma kienx jekk 1-imputat ke ll ux kopja
ta' 1-istess u giex i mhol l i juiahom, izda jekk din 1-
inforinazzjoni giet uzata mill
pul izija bi.ex ji ppreparaw i l-provi taghhom kontra 1-imputat
u k ien ghalh ekk I i 1-Kum missjoni d decidiet: ..t.l. .
"As regards article 6 para . 3 (b) the Commission notes
that the seized documents were not ust!d to incriminat e the
applicant in connection with the burglary proceedings and 1
played no part as evidence in his trial. On examination of the
circumstances of the case as a whole, therefo re, the Commission
.f inds that the applicant suf fered no disadvantage in the
pre paration of his defence and the facts therefore fa iled to ..,
'QrdS
arY
disclose any appearance of" a violation o.l this provis ion of the
220 QORTI KOSTITUZ ZJONALI
Convention '';
'\)
L-EW WEL PA RT!
221 1
\
Court of Appr.!01";

11-kwi stjoni tal -virulent press campaign fil-parametri ta' 1- art i kol u 6
tal-Konvenzjoni kienet id-decizjoni principali tal-kaz Bricmont vs Belgiu m,
deciza m i l l-Kumm issjoni fil-I5 ta' Lu lju, 1 986. K ien hemm ukoll
materji ohra ta' certa importanza
I i gew d ecizi f'dan il-kaz. Ebda mi nn dawn, pero, ma jitfghu d awl
ghas-soluzzjoni ta l-kai prezen t i;
1 1-kaz ta' Foucher vs France. d eciz fi t-1 8 ta' M arzu , 1997 I i kopja
inform i t ieghu gie csebit b'nota m i l l-appel lan t qudd iem d i n i l -Qorti fit-2
ta' Di cem bru , 1997. 1 1-fatt i ta ' dan i l-kaz ukol l ma tantx ji n kwad raw
ruhhom fi l-parametri tal-kaz odjern, Fouccher k ien gie impedut m i l l i jkol
l u access ghall-case file
tiegh u;
Ta i m portanza pero ghal d an il-kaz h u ma zewg pri nci pji I i gew
en unzjat i m il l-Qorti Ewropeja f'd i n is-sen tenza:
I d -Digest of Strasbourg Case Law relating to the European Convntion m
on Human Rights (Vol. 2) ma j ipprezenta xejn partikolarment gdid min n d ak
ga stabbilit fuq din il materja., Hekk per eiempju, fil-kaz Ofner gie rrilevat
illi:
"/n order to determine whether the right to have adequate tim and fw
.:ilit ies j(Jr the preparat ion of the defence has been resper.:ted, account must
he taken of the general sit uation of the
defen ce and not only of the situa tion of the accused" ;
Punt i nteressanti b'referenza ghal l-kai. i n ezami jitqajjem m i t t-awt ur
A nd rew Grotrian - Human Rights Files No. 13 ( urticle 6 ./;f the
European Convention on Human Rights) fejn ji tkel lem fL1q time und
VOi
facilit ies t i jrid u ji gu akkordati li l l ak k ui.at fid-d i fiza tieghu . .l ghid i
l l i 1-kazistika ghandha biss
va l u r l i m itat:

"The Court reiterates in this connection that according to the "The time need ed by the defence will be so widely variable that
principle of equality of arms, as one of the features of the wider concept of examples from the Case Law on article 6 para. 3 (b) are of
a fair trial, each party must be afforded a reasonable opportunity to present
his case in conditions that do not place him at a disadvantage vis-a-vis his limited value";
opponent" ;
Hekk ukoll dwar il-faci litaji et: (
G ie u koll ri tenut i l l i s-sem p l icifatt I i ma sari tx talba per se, m (

'ghand ux icahhad id-dri tt fondamen tal i ta' 1-individwu "The question as to what 'facilities .. are necessary for the 1
pre paration of the defence will of.so depend largely on the
ghal sm igh xieraq ; !C
particular circumstances" ;; s
i
"TheCourt disagrees with the Government 's contention that the :u
tsostni I i ku l l kaz partikolari ghandu 1-fattispecje tieghu u f'ku l l kaz 10
applicant cannot complain of a refusal to grant him access to his criminal
1-applikant ghandu j ipprova I i dik il-facilita pa rt ikolari k ienet ri
file, and to release to him copies of the documents in it, in as much as he
had not, at any time, made such a request to the principal public
prosecutor at the Caen
necessarja ghad-d ifiia adegwata tieghu ;
:1
h
E 'TII

222 QOR TI K OSTJ TUZZJON A LI
Dawn il-pu nt i, pait i kolarmen t dak ta' I -equality of
arms, bejn il-prosek uzzjoni u d-d ifiza gew ikk unsidrati
minn Dr. Roberta Gauci ftt-tezi taghha: The right to be
heard by an independen1 and Impartial Tribunal - fejn ns id
ezam ioat ukoll il kazistika tal-Qorti Ewropeja u tal-
K um m issjoni. Ta' rilevanza ghal l-kaz prezenti m i ll-
kazijiet m inn ha ezam inati huwa 1-kaz ta' Borgers vs
Belgium (30 ta' Ottubru, J 991 ), fejn i l-Qorti kk u
 i l-k uncett I i 1-gustizzja trid m h ux biss issir izda trid
t id her I i q ieghda ssi r;
"'Notably in respect of the importance attached to the
appearances and to the increased sensitivity of the public to
the fair adminsitrntion ofjus tice";
Fil -kaz Bra ndStatter (28/8/91 ) gie dec iz il l i 1-pri nci-
pju ta ' 1 -t' quality of' arms kien k uncett aktar wiesgha m i n n
dak ta' smigh x ieraq peress I i:
"'which also includes the fundamental right that criminal
proci:edings should be adversarial";
Bejn wiehed u iehor dan k ien i l-pri nci pju deciz ukol l
fil kaz K amasin ki vs Austria ( 19/ 1 2/989);
Ezam i nat dan kol l u d i n i l-Qorti ssi b i l l i s-sekwest ru
tan- 11otame11t i, dok u men t i u kotba m i ll-p.ussess ta ' I-
appellant ft xk l u se1ja111en t i l-faci l i ta tiegh u fid-d ifiZa t a '
1-akk uzi m i gju ba kontra t iegh u , u dana m inkejja I i dan is-
sekwestr u kien l imitat biss ghall-perijod u meta 1-imputat
kien qed ji xhed. IC-cirkostanzi part ikolari ta' dan i l-guri,
pero, inkluz iz-zm ien I i dam ghaddej u 1-volu m k bi r ta ' xh
ieda moghtija, ki en u ji rri kjed u i ll i almen u fi l-pararnetri ta '
1-artikolu 583, Kap. 12, 1- im putat jinghata din il-fac i l it a. Da
n i s-sek westru kell u u koll ta ' bilfors effett qawwi negatt i v
psi kologi ku fuq 1-im putat waq t I i k ien qed jixhed I i
L-EWW EL PA RT! 223
inoltre ma j idhirx Ii gie trattat bl-istess mod bhax-xhieda tal
prosek uzzjoni. L-allegazzjoni infatti maghmula mid-difiza Ii xi
xhieda tal-prosekuzzjoni gew ittrattati diversament minkejja Ii d-
deposi zzjoni .taghhom giet ukoll sospiia, ma giet bl-ebda mod
kon kret ri battuta u kontradetta;
11-Qorti ghal hek k h ija ta l-feh ma I i f'dan i r-r
igward u l imi t at ghal dan 1-aggravju, id-dritt ta' I-appel
lant ghal smigh xieraq q udd iem 1-Ewwel Qorti gie miksur
peress illi ma giex salvagwardat dak i pprovd ut tl-arti kol u 39
Cou
(6) (b) tal Kostituzzjoni, salv dak I i sejjer jinghad;
Fl-istess waqt , pero, d i n il-Qorti ma tistax tinJora s
sentenza tal-Qorti ta' I -Appel l Kriminal i I i, partikolarment
ghat dak I i ji rrigwarda 1-kamp kri m i nal i u 1-htija o rneno
ta' ! appel lant, ma sabet ebda miscarriage of.justice u sabet
ukoll Ii kienu jezis tu biiiejjed provi biex, mi nkejja din 1-
irregolarita, kwan unk we gurija ragonevol i kienet issib !ill-
appellant hati ta' 1-akkuzi kif sabitu . 11-Qorti ta' I-A ppell Kri
mi nali waslet ghal d i n il-konk luijoni wara I i ezaminat il-
provi kollha migjuba fl istess guri u wara I i kkunsidrat bir-
reqqa din 1-irregolarita. M h uwiex il-k ompitu ta' din il-
Qorti I i tissindika din il kon k luzjoni tal-Qorti ta' I-A ppel JU0
l K ri minal i fil-kam p purament krim i na l i. H u wa invece il-
1
kom pitu ta' d i n il-Qorti I i tiddikjara Search
i l l i hati kem m h uwa hat i im putat, huma kemm h um a )earch
skjaccanti 1-provi kontra t iegh u, 1-istess ghand u j inghata 1-
faci1itajiet u 1- opport uni ta kol l ha bi ex ji pprepara u ji , earch
pprezenta d-difiza tieghu, u dan m inghajr xkiel u bl -i stess A
.facilitajiet u opportunitajiet
moght ija l ill-prosek uzzjoni ; -arch S1
!rch By
F'dan i l -kuntest, wara Ii ntqal Ii wiehed mid-drittijiet
iCh Jucfi
tad d i fiza ma giex im hares, hem m, m i ll-banda 1-ohra
konsiderazzjoni im portanti I i ghand ha piz qawwi bhala )Ct the I
kontro bi lanc ghal d i k i l-vjolazzjoni , biex ma ji ::--
ASEs
nghadx i tl i -:.
SAGE
res
. ,
Ms
=-
ALes
::-..::::;:-
'ER-,.
224 QORTI KOSTITUZZJON A LI 225
L-EWW EL PA RT!
Servi<
ti kkancellaha kom pleta tne nt. Di n h ija i l l i r-ri korrent, meta
the nat ional courts to assess the evidence bej()re them ...
appel la qud diem 1-0norabbl i Qorti ta' I-A ppel l Kri m inal i,
Accordingl y, its task under the Convention is to ascertain
tl ebda m urnent ma tal ab biex qudd iern d i n i 1-Qorti h uwa
whether the proceedings considered as a whole. including the N0.1,
jixhed u ji x hed bl-assistenza ta' daw k id-dok umen ti I i gew l il
wqy in which evidence was taken. were fair " (Wind isch Case,
u m ichuda tl-ewwel istanza (artikol u 506 (c), Kod ici K rim inali,
27/9/1990). Dan il-principju gie ukoll ritenut fid-Delta Case
Kap. 9). U dan i n-nuqq as ghand u jigi attribwit l i l u kom
( 191121.-1 990) u f'Vidal vs Belgiu m (22/4/92);
pletament. Fi proced uri kri m i nali, bhal ma k ienu dawn, il-
Qorti ma tistax titlob l i l l-akk uzat, kif kien ir-rikorrent
f'dak il-m ument, Ii ji xhed. Di k hija ghazla I i jista ' jaghm i lha Din il-Qorti hija tal- fehrna i l l i meta jsi r 1-ezercizzju
h u wa, u huwa biss. Ma jistax ji nghad x 'k ienet tkun id-decizjoni msem m i, m 'hem m x dubhju I i 1-proced ura koll ha fil-kumpless
11illeri J
ta' d i k 1-0norabbli Qorti k iek u r-ri korren t talab biex ji x hed tagh ha. fil-konfrondar-rikor rent. tid-diversi qrati u fid-d iversi
q udd iem ha u ji x hed bl ghajn una ta dawk id-dok umenti, ta ' stadji. k ienet gusta; Onore\I
noti u an notazzjon ij iet, I i h uwa k k ompi la waq t i l-guri . Pero,
d i k i t-tal ba zgur kellu d-dritt Spejjez ta' dan 1-appell m i nghajr taxxa.
I i jagh m i l ha. U I i naqas I i jaghm i l ha, ghandha ri levanza fid-dri
ni - PO!
tt kosti t uzzjonal i. Difatti dan i n-n uq qas jin kwadra ruh u u da
essenzjal ment uproced uralment jam monta glial dak- Ii
ji kkontem pla I-proviso ta' 1-arti kol u 46 (2) tal-Kostituzzjoni, 'ti
jigi fier i I i, bi ll i r-ri korrent kell u ghad-d isposi zzjon i Civil
tieghu mezzi gu rid i kament ord i narji ta ' ri medju ghal d ak I i m ronunz.
22 ta' Settem bru, i bih
i nn u qed j i lla menta, allura 1-Qorti t ista ', jek k tq is I i 1998 ih
danh uwa desiderabbl i ti rrifjuta I i ti pprovd i ri :
medju "kostituzzjonal i" h ija; rimina
lmlla llfin :- lsisti fi
Ordina
Fi nal ment, j ibqa' ukoll pero, dak I i ft 1-gurisprudenza tal <onsid1
Qort i Ewropeja tad-Dri ttijiet tal-Bn iedem f'kazijiet bhal dawn S.T.O. Jose'ph Said Pullici no B.A. (H ons.), LL.D. - htija I
huwa 1-princi pju rizol utti v u deciziv u cjoe illi meta jinstab Ii fi Presi dent Onor. Carmel A. Agi us B.A., LL.D. 1eghu,
proced u ri krim i riali ma gewx r ispettati 1-garanziji kollha Onor. Noel V Arrigo LL.D. Kostlt
mehtiega fl-artikolu 6 tal-Konvenajoni jekk izda meta wiehed il-Ligiji
kull 1
ihares lejn i 1-proced iment koll u u komplessivament jidher I i dak kull d
i l-proced iment kien gust u sod isfacen ti, all ura 1-garanzija I 'kkonf
i ti rriiu l ta I i kienet n ieqsa, wahed ha, m hi x bizzejjed biex ti inn dik
Ansell Farrugia Migneco '1va
nficcja kot ';s
dak i l -procedi ment u d-d i kjarazzjoni tal -Qorti fuq i n-n Ord
uqqas t issod isfa 1-htiega tal-k orretti va, l i erna d i kjarazzjon i versus fftikol1
saret f'din is-sentenza. Difatti d i k i l-Qorti q alet: "... the rv xhle
magi
Court recalls at Kummissarju Elettorali ohra t
the outset tat the admissibility of' evidence is primarily a t ezar
matter cf regulation by national law, and that as a rule, it is .vit - k
for itij a q
:>rocec
mm x
kostit
net
til
;m igh Iilli I-