A constable yesterday told the court how a stolen car he and colleagues had been following rammed their police car and then drove away.
PC Alfred Gauci was testifying in the compilation of evidence against Anthony Zammit, 25, Ivan Galea 29, and Tristan Falzon 21, all of Qormi, who stand charged with stealing two cars, two necklaces and a handbag, attempted grievous bodily harm, resisting the police, extensively damaging police and other cars, driving without licence, at excessive speeds and without insurance and relapsing.
Falzon also stands charged with committing a crime during the operative period of a suspended sentence and Zammit is also being charged as he was supposed to be under house arrest when the alleged thefts and car chase took place.
The three were remanded in custody.
PC Gauci told Magistrate Abigail Lofaro he was in a marked police car together with PC John Falzon on April 25. They were investigating a report about illegal hunting on Sunday afternoon close to the airport in Luqa when the police control room issued instructions for the police to keep a lookout for a green Ford Cortina that had been stolen. The people inside it were suspected to be behind a series of thefts in which bags and a necklace were stolen from three women in different localities.
PC Gauci said they spotted the Cortina heading towards Zurrieq and tried to follow it but lost it. Shortly after they saw it again and they signalled the driver to stop but, instead, the driver sped off.
The police made a U-turn and gave chase. The Cortina was speeding and weaving through traffic and they also radioed for assistance. They kept following the car and when they were about 30 metres away, as the car was heading towards Id-Dar tal-Providenza, the Cortina turned and came facing the police car.
PC Gauci said they stopped to see what those inside would do next and suddenly they saw the car coming at them at great speed. PC Falzon swerved their car so that the Cortina could pass unobstructed.
"Our aim was to delay as much as possible as we knew that mobile squad police were close by but instead of passing by our car the Cortina rammed our car," PC Gauci said.
The policeman said he then saw the door on the passenger side open and notices Zammit flee and he gave chase. He caught up with him and arrested him.
PC Gauci said that after ramming the police car, the Cortina reversed and headed towards Ghar Lapsi.
Galea, who was driving the Cortina, and Falzon were arrested shortly after by police from the mobile squad.
A handbag that had been reported stolen was found in the car.
The three men had allegedly stolen two necklaces and a handbag from three women in Tarxien, Birzebbuga and Birkirkara.
Inspector Michael Mallia said he had interrogated Zammit who cooperated with the police and explained how he and Galea had stolen a Cortina from Birkirkara and then went to pick up Falzon from Qormi. As the car was not working properly, they decided to steal another Cortina from Hamrun and then drove around Tarxien, Birzebbuga and Zurrieq, committing bag snatching on the way.
Dr Robert Abela is appearing for Galea, Dr Silvio Brincat is appearing for Zammit and Dr Chris Cardona is assisting Falzon.
Police Inspectors Michael Mallia and Alexander Miruzzi prosecuted.