Zabbar man faces 53 court charges

A 23-year-old from Zabbar was today taken to court to face a string of 53 charges including two attempted murders, three hold-ups and car thefts.

Michael Mifsud was remanded in custody after being accused of three hold-ups last January - at a confectionery in Paola, a takeaway in Marsascala and the Cerviola Hotel, also in Marsascala. He was also accused of shooting and injuring shop assistants in two of the hold-ups and also shooting at a cash box.

He is pleading not guilty.

In a separate case, Steve Grima, 23 of Birkirkara, pleaded guilty to having stolen household items from a flat in Msida on December 28 to fund his drug habit. He also admitted to handling stolen property.

Magistrate Tonio Micallef Trigona jailed him for two years suspended for four after the prosecution and defence teams discussed the case at the bench.