Lawyer claims that grounds for arrest of client were too weak

A lawyer yesterday contested the arrest of his client and called it a complete abuse of the system after the only evidence the police had to go by was a spot of blood on his shoe.

Lawyer Edward Gatt said his client, 21-year-old Jonathan Felice, had once been given a lift by someone who was accused of a hold-up in San Ġwann and because of a spot of blood on his client's shoe, Mr Felice had been arrested.

Police Inspector Anthony Portelli insisted there were witnesses who had seen the accused in the area when the alleged armed robbery took place.

The victim, 66-year-old farmer Żeppi Borg, was at home in bed when a group of men broke in. He said he tried to stop the thieves with his walking frame but was beaten and told to show the intruders where his money was. He added that he was hit over the head with a screwdriver.

The men allegedly stole about €1,700 in cash and hundreds of euros worth of jewellery.

In yesterday's arraignment, Mr Felice pleaded not guilty to stealing the cash and jewellery, slightly injuring Mr Borg and breaching the conditions of three previous releases.

Magistrate Joseph Apap Bologna remanded Mr Felice in custody after taking into consideration the seriousness of the charges against him.