Cleared of stealing bags

Two men were yesterday cleared of stealing two bags from a Mellieha beach last year after a magistrate ruled that the charges had not been sufficiently proven.

Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera cleared Timothy Jones, 23, and Joseph Barbara, 27, of stealing the bags from Ghadira Bay in August 2004.

On evaluating the circumstances of the case and the evidence brought forward, the magistrate noted that there were conflicting versions and that the prosecution's main witness was not credible.

Police Inspectors Domenic Micallef and Yvette Farrugia prosecuted.

Lawyers Joseph Giglio and Giannella Caruana Curran appeared for the two men.