Boy,16, jailed for two months

A 16-year-old boy was jailed for two months today after admitting in a police statement to breaching his bail conditions and being in possession of stolen goods.

The boy, whose name cannot be published because he is a minor, had told police that he had in fact left his house outside the hours stipulated in his bail conditions. He also admitted to being in possession of stolen goods.

Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera said that it was quite obvious that the boy wanted to challenge the administration of the courts and that the charges were serious.

Magistrate Scerri Herrera said that although the boy had only one conditional discharge for three years on his police record, he did not learn from his mistakes.

He was subsequently jailed for two months and fined €230.

Police Inspector Bernard Spiteri prosecuted.

In another case, a court heard today how a man had allegedly assaulted his wife after she refused to assist his mother who was about to be taken to hospital

John Caruana 39, from Siggiewi, pleaded not guilty to having assaulted his wife, threatening her and slightly injuring her on Saturday afternoon. Magistrate Edwina Grima heard Police Inspector Tony Cachia say that this seemed to be an isolated incident; however he added that on speaking to Mrs Caruana she told him that there had been a similar less serious incident some months back. He added that she had told him that this was the first time that it had escalated to such a degree.

Lawyer Vince Micallef told the court that it was a small argument that had been blown out of proportion, when Mrs Caruana refused to help her husband’s mother who was to be taken to hospital.

Magistrate Grima said that under no circumstances should violence be used and warned Mr Caruana that in granting him bail, it was solely up to him if he stayed out of prison or not.

Mr Caruana was subsequently granted bail against a personal guarantee of €2,000.