Accused ‘intended to burgle’ dead woman’s apartment

The three people accused of mugging an 80-year-old woman, who then died of her injuries, kept her house keys and identity card in their getaway car because they planned to burgle her residence, a magistrate was told yesterday.

“They kept her keys and ID card as they wanted to break into Rose Garroni’s house,” Police Inspector Chris Pullicino, prosecuting, told Magistrate Anthony Vella.

Mr Pullicino was testifying in the compilation of evidence against Charlie Brincat, 30, of Cospicua, Richard Attard, 29, of Birkirkara and 21-year-old Bernice Camilleri of Qawra, who are pleading not guilty to stealing Ms Garroni’s handbag and causing her death as a result of their violent act.

The officer said that, on December 8 at about 7.15 p.m., the police were informed Ms Garroni was lying unconscious on the pavement in Dingli Circus, Sliema, a few metres away from her apartment. She was found in a critical condition, in a pool of blood and still clutching the strap of her handbag. She succumbed to her extensive injuries on December 14.

After the alleged mugging, Mr Brincat, Mr Attard and his girlfriend, Ms Camilleri, went to Cospicua to buy cocaine and then returned to Sliema where they robbed another elderly woman, the officer said.

The three are also pleading not guilty to stealing another handbag, an hour and 30 minutes later, from 88-year-old Maria Cassar.

Acting on an eyewitness account, the police viewed security camera footage of a side street off Dingli Street. Only two cars passed in the period of time between Ms Garroni’s mugging and the arrival of the ambulance, the prosecuting officer said. The first car was driven by a woman who was parking and the second was a dark-coloured Fiat Uno. This sparked off a police search for such a vehicle, although the inspector did not say what the outcome of the search was.

On December 18, Mr Pullicino was informed that Mr Brincat, who was following an alcohol rehabilitation programme at Mount Carmel Hospital, had spoken about the mugging incident to a nursing officer. “He said he was behind it. He spoke up after hearing Ms Garroni had died,” the court heard.

The officer went to Mount Carmel where Mr Brincat recounted the whole incident: “He wanted to cooperate. He tried to take her bag, she resisted and he pushed her. He knew what he was saying.”

Mr Brincat claimed both Mr Attard and Ms Camilleri were involved and they were arrested on the same day.

The couple, who held hands tightly during yesterday’s sitting, never got out of the car during both muggings. Only Mr Brincat did, Mr Pullicino said.

“They said they were broke and Mr Brincat came up with this plan. Mr Attard told him: ‘Do what you like. I’ll drop you where you want to go but I’m not getting out of the car’.”

Defence lawyer Mark Busuttil requested bail for Mr Brincat but the prosecution objected insisting eyewitnesses still had to be heard.

Magistrate Vella said it “was very unlikely” he would grant bail yesterday because he had to follow judicial procedures.

Without going into the specifics of this case, he also pointed out a request for bail could not be linked to presumption of innocence. “Presumption of innocence and bail have nothing to do with each other. Bail is granted against certain guarantees and is part of the judicial process that ensures, among other things, the accused appears in court,” he said. “So don’t bring up presumption of innocence in your arguments,” the magistrate told the defence counsel.

All three accused were remanded in custody and the case was put off for January.

As the accused were making their way out of the court room, Mr Brincat angrily and in a loud voice complained to Mr Pullicino he had not been granted bail. He was escorted away.

Police Inspector Anna Marie Micallef also prosecuted.

Lawyer Mark Anthony Mifsud appeared as legal aid for Mr Attard and Ms Camilleri.