Sentence handed down to Jeremie Camilleri for the murder of Pelin Kaya in Malta!

The sentencing hearing for 34-year-old French-Maltese national Camilleri, who was being tried in custody for the intentional killing of Pelin Kaya on January 18, 2023, was held this morning at the Valletta Courthouse. The Kaya family also attended the hearing.

According to information obtained by an AA reporter from officials at the firm providing legal counsel to the Kaya family, Judge Consuelo Herrera found Camilleri, who struck Pelin Kaya with his vehicle, guilty during the sentencing hearing and sentenced him to 40 years in prison.

40 YEARS IN PRISON, THE MAXIMUM SENTENCE UNDER MALTESE LAW

While the prosecution had requested a 37-year prison sentence for Camilleri due to the defense side accepting the charges and entering into a plea agreement last month, it was learned that Judge Herrera sentenced him to 40 years in prison, the maximum penalty she could impose under Maltese law in such cases.

"HE DID NOT JUST KILL HER, HE THREW STONES AT HER"

According to a report by the Times of Malta newspaper, Judge Herrera stated that the defendant Camilleri had a violent personality and had not learned from his previous convictions, saying, "He did not just drive his vehicle at the victim and kill her, he then threw stones at her. He also attacked other people in the vicinity. In this society, this is unacceptable. This behavior must be condemned in the strongest possible terms. The victim was killed while walking on the sidewalk."

The report also noted the judge's desire during the hearing to impose a life sentence on Camilleri.

It was also noted that Camilleri, who was fined 5,000 euros, will also cover court costs amounting to 20,000 euros.

WHAT HAPPENED?

On January 18, 2023, at around 01:00, a vehicle driven by Jeremie Camilleri struck Pelin Kaya, who was walking in front of a restaurant on Testeferrata Street in the city of Gzira, Malta.

Eyewitnesses reported that Camilleri got out of his vehicle, threw stones at Kaya, and obstructed those who wanted to help her.

Maltese police took Camilleri, who was exhibiting aggressive behavior, into custody with the help of a taser. Camilleri was arrested by the court on charges of "intentional homicide."

Pelin Kaya's funeral was held in Istanbul on January 22, 2023.

Jeremie Camilleri, who had been in custody since the day of the incident and had consistently denied the charges, changed his statement on February 5 of this year, confessed to killing Kaya, and accepted all charges against him. Following this, the prosecution and the defense agreed on a plea deal, and the Kaya family consented to this in order to prevent the trial from dragging on further and to ensure the murderer was sentenced as soon as possible.

"THE KAYA FAMILY HAS BEEN THE LOSER IN THIS TRAGEDY"

Pelin Kaya's older sister, Derya Kaya, stated in a post on Instagram regarding the matter, "I would like you to know that the Kaya family is the loser in this tragedy, that Pelin will never return, and that the pain will never subside. While we believe the murderer deserves the harshest sentence, we can confirm that we were consulted by the prosecutor's office during the negotiations, that we participated in these discussions, and that we agreed on the terms of the plea deal, considering the difficult and exhausting nature of the process, in order to ensure justice is served as quickly as possible and to reach a conclusion sooner."

News Source: 12punto