Cleared of firing gun

A man has been acquitted of firing a gun during a family argument in Cospicua after no hard evidence could be found at either the alleged crime scene or at his home.

Charles Debono had been accused by his own father, Carmel, of firing a gun in a flare-up on June 21, 1998 at around 3.15 p.m.

Police Inspector Carmel Bartolo and Maria Stella Cutajar told the court that Mr Debono had driven to his father's house, got into an argument with his brother Martin and they came to blows.

A short time after the incident the father of the accused filed a police report in which he alleged that his son had pointed and fired a gun at the balcony where he was standing alongside his 11-year-old grandson and a friend.

Court experts were called in to examine the crime scene but no spent cartridges or gun-shot residue were found.

Magistrate Audrey Demicoli said none of the witnesses were consistent in their testimony and after taking into consideration the court expert's findings, found the accused not guilty.