Woman cleared of stealing items 'of no monetary value'

An Attard woman in her 50s was yesterday acquitted of theft after the court declared that she did not intend to make gain and that, although what she stole could have had sentimental value, it did not have monetary value.

The woman was accused of stealing frames containing family photos from Ronald Sultana's house in Attard.

The court heard that Prof. Sultana had filed a report that someone had broken into his house and stolen the frames. Someone had also scratched foul words on the door.

Some of the frames were later returned broken, in a plastic bag.

A few months later, Prof. Sultana heard the doorbell ring and when he opened he found one of the photos, torn up, on the doorstep. He saw a woman walking away and he followed her and asked her if she had rung his doorbell, but she denied it and was rude to him.

He decided to follow her in his car and called the police. The woman was tracked down and arrested.

It turned out that she lived in a house back to back with Prof. Sultana's. Some of the missing photos were found in her washroom.

The woman told the police she wanted the Sultanas to think someone was following them as she was fed up with them looking into her property.

The police testified that during investigations it turned out the woman had a history of mental problems and that she often refused to take the medicines that were prescribed to her. Her husband often slept outside as he was afraid of her and he often kept a knife in bed because of his fear.

Psychiatrist Joseph Spiteri testified that the woman had been coming to regular sessions since 2002 as she suffered from depression. The psychiatrist was of the opinion that the woman should be hospitalised.

In passing judgment, Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera said it was evident the woman was not after making gain and though the photos could have had sentimental value, they did not have material value so the court could not find her guilty of theft.

However the court recommended that the Police Commissioner take note of Dr Spiteri's report and see to it that the woman be seen by a doctor, with a view to admitting her to hospital.

Police Inspector Jeffrey Cilia prosecuted.

Lawyer Kenneth Grima represented the accused.