Man jailed for series of thefts from cars

Alan Grima, 26, of Kalkara was today jailed for two years on 12 counts of theft including theft of a car and a string of thefts of music equipment from cars. He was also found guilty of relapsing.

The court found that Mr Grima was arrested after the Zurrieq police launched investigations into thefts from cars in a car park in Kirkop. Mr Grima was arrested on site carrying tools. He said he had a drug problem and indicated the thefts he had committed.

The accused was not found guilty of drug possession.

The court noted that the accused had cooperated with the police and cooperated with the police.

ACCUSED OF ASSAULTING TWO WOMEN

In a separate case, Frank Zahra, 39, was handed a 12-month prison term suspended for two years after being convicted of injuring Maroushka Salerno when he punched her in the face. He was also convicted of having injured Susanne Buttigieg. The incident happened on June 6, 2004 outside a band club in Birzebbuga.

The two girls claimed they had been walking outside the club. The accused tripped Susanne Buttigieg and when they confronted him, he threw a glass at Buttigieg. As an argument ensured he hit out at both girls.

The accused in a police statement said he had accidentally hit one of the girls as he turned and one of them swore at him and hit out with her hand bag. He pushed her and she tripped because of her high heels and hit her face against a wall.

The court said the version given by the two girls was more credible and had been corroborated by a policeman. In contrast, there were discrepancies in evidence given by the accused to the police and later in court.