CCTV records arsonist

A magistrate yesterday ruled that there were sufficient reasons for the indictment of a man charged with setting fire to the front door of the Qormi mayor's house. Magistrate Miriam Hayman gave the ruling during the compilation of evidence against...

A magistrate yesterday ruled that there were sufficient reasons for the indictment of a man charged with setting fire to the front door of the Qormi mayor's house.

Magistrate Miriam Hayman gave the ruling during the compilation of evidence against Kenneth Camilleri, 27, of Birzebbuga, who is pleading not guilty to setting mayor Jesmond Aquilina's front door on fire, causing damage amounting to over Lm500 and threatening the mayor on January 3 at about 2 a.m.

During yesterday's sitting the magistrate heard court expert Martin Bajjada testify about two video clips taken by the closed circuit camera at the mayor's house.

One video, taken on the night of the fire, showed a person walk to the mayor's house, place something on the threshold, light a fire and run away.

The other video had been taken by police while investigating Mr Camilleri. They had filmed Mr Camilleri, with the same CCTV, in order to compare his gait and physique to those of the person filmed on the night of the incident.

Magistrate Hayman yesterday appointed Mr Bajjada to measure the dimensions of the person seen in the two videos and carry out a comparative analysis.

Police Inspectors Carmelo Bartolo and Raymond D'Anastas are prosecuting.

Lawyers José Herrera and Roberto Montalto are defence counsels.

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