Law student's statement to police in drugs case deemed inadmissible by the Constitutional Court

A lawyer whose criminal trial over drug-smuggling charges is expected soon, has successfully argued before the Constitutional court that a police statement released 18 years ago upon arrest and without legal assistance, cannot  be used as evidence against her. Graziella Attard was a 23-year old law student when one night in November 2004 she was arrested together with her Italian boyfriend, Roberto Conte, a Neapolitan trader, as soon as the couple arrived from Pozzallo, Sicily. Acting on a tip-off, police officers had searched the couple’s  Peugeot and discovered several packets of suspected cannabis resin, totalling some 10 kilograms, tucked away under one of the seats. A further search inside the couple’s Fgura residence later that same night had yielded more drugs. The couple were arrested and charged with importation and possession of the drug, as well as with having conspired with third parties to import and traffic drugs. The Italian man has eventually pleaded guilty and in January 2008 was condemned to a 12-year jail term and a €28,000 fine. On the other hand, his Maltese girlfriend had pleaded not guilty and after undergoing a compilation of evidence is currently...