Donna Sciberras, a 30-year-old involved in a shocking armed robbery at a Żurrieq jewellery shop, has been sentenced to 28 years behind bars after pleading guilty to attempted murder and a series of related charges.
The incident, which took place on August 25, 2023, saw the shop’s owner, Joseph Carabott, brutally attacked and left for dead. Carabott, who was 67 at the time, was found bound and severely injured behind a locked door in his shop on Triq Dun Ġużepp Zammit. His cries for help during the robbery led to him being beaten unconscious. He was later rushed to Mater Dei Hospital in critical condition.
Sciberras had initially denied charges of attempted murder, violent aggravated theft, and other serious offenses. However, she later changed her plea, acknowledging her role in the violent crime that left Carabott fighting for his life. Her co-accused, Mohamed Anas Boualam and Zouhair Hadoumi, continue to plead not guilty to charges including grievous bodily harm, unlawful restraint, possession of a knife during the commission of a crime, willful property damage, and disobeying police orders.
The case took a dramatic turn when Sciberras caused a scene in court by lunging at one of her co-defendants, accusing him of shifting all the blame onto her and the third accomplice. The court also heard testimony from a Corradino Correctional Facility inmate who revealed that Sciberras had hinted at the planned robbery weeks before it occurred.
The robbery, marked by its brazen violence and calculated execution, shocked the community and left a lasting scar on the victim and his family. The severe sentence handed down to Sciberras reflects the gravity of her actions and serves as a stark warning against such crimes.
