Man granted bail for second time in a week - taser gun used in arrest

A man who 20 years ago helped trigger an explosion which killed a mother and her baby, was granted bail for the second time in a week today.

Silvio Pace, 42 of Hamrun, had been convicted of being an accomplice in an explosion at a Paola photographer's shop, which was carried out to claim insurance money. The blast brought down the apartment where the mother and her son were sleeping.

Last week, he was granted bail after being accused of stealing some €330 worth of tools from a house in his hometown.

He today pleaded not guilty to assaulting and resisting the police and slightly injuring two officers.

Police Inspector Robert Vella said Mr Pace was stopped while driving, and officers asked him for his insurance documents. Instead he handed them marriage separation documents. They became suspicious and asked to search the car. He became very aggressive and was seen trying to hide tools. The accused was so aggressive that a taser gun had to be used.

The inspector insisted that the accused should not be granted bail because of the gravity of the charges and the fact that he had not cooperated.

The court granted bail against a personal guarantee of €10,000. The court said it was basing its decision because the accused had four children who needed looking after.