Waylon Johnston
Couple go from garage to prison
A couple who until a month ago were living in a garage with their two children were jailed yesterday for breaching bail conditions.
Josef Sharfid, 35, who is still living in the Marsascala garage, and his pregnant girlfriend Natasha Mullaney, 30, of Marsa, pleaded guilty to the charge as they sat in the dock looking dishevelled.
At one point, Ms Mullaney, sitting next to her large bright pink handbag, broke down in tearless sobs and was comforted by Mr Sharfid who put his arm around her.
The couple breached their bail conditions by escaping from police custody when officers followed up a warrant for their arrest on Thursday evening. It was not said what they were arrested for.
Their lawyer, Edward Gatt, told Magistrate Giovanni Grixti his clients could, by law, be fined instead of jailed. Police Inspector Joseph Mercieca was having none of it though, arguing there was no option but to jail them because every time they were given a chance they committed offences “left, right and centre”.
Magistrate Grixti looked at the bail conditions they had been given on February 23, when they were charged with petty theft. He said the other court had probably heard about the couple’s problems, especially since they had been granted bail against a deposit of just €100.
Dr Gatt said the couple were “dealing with the lowest ebb”. This was a social case at its worst, which encapsulated everything, including drug addiction, housing issues and even their two children.
Ms Mullaney has now moved into a flat with her two children.
Magistrate Grixti jailed her for two months while Mr Sharfid was imprisoned for six months.
Lawyer Joseph Arrigo also appeared for the couple.
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James A. Tyrrell
Mar 13th 2011, 16:09
@paula cipriott. I can see your point here Paula especially given the fact that I'm an ex police officer however that has also given me to opportunity to realise that simply throwing someone into a cell and doing nothing to help them doesn't help. You talk about this couple being given chances when actually what you are referring to is the couple being let off with a light sentence in the past. That is not giving them a chance, it is simply throwing them back into the same situation with inevitably the same consequences.
We should remember the words of George Santayana in his' Reason in Common Sense, The Life of Reason, Vol.1' where he is often quoted as saying, "Those who ignore history are bound (or doomed) to repeat it." Actually this is a mis-quotation as his actual words were, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it," but the idea is the same. we need to remember why these people are behaving in the way they are and deal with the cause rather than the symptom, otherwise we are just forcing them to repeat their past crimes in order to survive.
paula cipriott
Mar 13th 2011, 12:21
what about the victims????no pity for them ..all they ever worked for stolen precious sentimental valuables that had no pricetag ...trauma for their children to come home and find there things taken also the fear of not feelin safe in their own home ..No i do not pity these people .I think the police do great work and its a shame that their hard work is thrown out the window these people were given chances each time they went and stole again so if you have not been touched by this and you are not a victim you would not pity them.In life we are given choices whatever the choice there is always a price to pay.
James A. Tyrrell
Mar 12th 2011, 15:05
"every time they were given a chance they committed offences left, right and centre”. It should be obvious to anyone that this couple are facing an uphill battle in order to just try and survive. Few of us could imagine living in a garage with two children. If they have a drug problem then they need help from somewhere to kick that habit because until they do the present situation will continue.
Joe Grima
Mar 12th 2011, 22:49
What an inconsiderate, inhumane society we are living in. This couple should not have been handled by a hardnosed heartless police officer but by a caring doting welfare officer .. This is a couple that has obviously touched bottom and needs a lot of help to acquire the dignity and balance that, for God knows what reason, they have lost. Can no one see and hear their screams of absolute despair?
Byron Spiteri UK
Mar 13th 2011, 13:10
Actually what it boils down to is that Malta is no different then any other western country, they all want their pound of flesh regardless of the hurt it causes to families such as the above mentioned in the article. Welcome to lenient Malta (Maybe???)? sinde the past decade Malta has gone to the dogs along with Britian.