Burglary suspect 'a disgrace' to other thieves

A magistrate yesterday half-jokingly told a man who appeared before him charged with burglary that he was a disgrace to the profession of thieves having been caught every time he did it.

Kenneth Ellul, 34, from Floriana, who is serving time in jail in connection with other cases, appeared before Magistrate Antonio Mizzi charged with stealing over €2,330 in precious items from a house in Attard to the detriment of Salvatore and Agnes Cutajar.

Mr Ellul was also charged with handling stolen goods, damaging the Cutajars' property and relapsing.

Mr Ellul's arraignment was over within seconds. Not even his legal aid lawyer who had been appointed to represent him was present.

Magistrate Mizzi told Mr Ellul, who had appeared before him on a number of occasions in the past, that he was "a disgrace to his profession" because he never managed to do anything without getting caught.

The magistrate asked him whether the charges brought against him were true and upon receiving a negative reply turned down a request for bail that was never made because the legal aid lawyer, Anthony Cutajar, had not arrived yet.

Mr Ellul was remanded in custody.

Police Inspectors Raymond Cassar and Johann Fenech prosecuted.