Accused of theft from Valletta cathedral

A 20-year-old man yesterday admitted to stealing cash and a laptop from St John's Co-Cathedral, in Valletta, just a week after being released from jail, claiming he had no money to live on.

"I had just come out of prison and had nothing... I had no money. Since then I have not done anything wrong. I started working as a mechanic and even joined MCAST," said Daniel Lanzon after pleading guilty to stealing from the cathedral on May 10.

Mr Lanzon, who initially appeared unattended, called on Magistrate Giovanni Grixti not to jail him and even suggested voluntary work as a punishment for what he did.

However, Magistrate Grixti explained to him that since, in a separate case, he had already been given a two-year jail term, the law did not allow for probation or a suspended jail term.

"Surely the court needs to understand a person with no money... People with drug problems are understood," Mr Lanzon told the magistrate.

Magistrate Grixti then put off the case in order to give Mr Lanzon time to reconsider his guilty plea and get hold of a lawyer.

When the case was called again, Mr Lanzon, now represented by lawyer Leon Bencini, chose to go ahead with his guilty plea and Magistrate Grixti proceeded to hear submissions on punishment.

Police Inspector Michael Mallia, prosecuting, noted that Mr Lanzon's behaviour was always the same and he did not feel the accused was ready to change his ways. The officer did add however that the young man had fully cooperated with the police on the case and even returned both the money and the laptop.

Dr Bencini pointed out that Mr Lanzon had filed an early guilty plea and noted that he was only 20 years old. He added it was well known that finding a job was hard for an ex-convict. Mr Lanzon stole the items from the cathedral before he had found a job. Now he had settled down and this reality, Dr Bencini argued, could not be ignored.

Besides, he said, one had to ask whether it was beneficial to society to put a 20-year-old in jail or whether it would be better for society to help the young man during these "character building" years.

Magistrate Grixti ordered that an updated copy of Mr Lanzon's criminal record be exhibited and he put off the case for judgment. He ordered that Mr Lanzon be held in custody.

On hearing this Mr Lanzon, standing in the dock, said: "Next time I won't plead guilty then."

"You've already thrown me in jail once," he said as he was shown out of the courtroom by relatives, police officers and his lawyer.

Minutes later Dr Bencini stepped into the courtroom and informed the magistrate that his client wanted to apologise and asked if that were possible.

"Of course he can," Magistrate Grixti replied and Mr Lanzon walked back to the dock and said: "Sorry".

"Think of what you're doing," the magistrate said in a gentle tone.