A case that dragged on for 23 years ended yesterday with a magistrate declaring the charges were time barred and acquitting the accused.

New magistrate Natasha Galea Sciberras noted sittings were five years apart and the accused not even being told to attend.

Raymond Bonnici and Ronald Urry pleaded that their case, which revolved around a stolen €217.50 cheque, was time barred and so they should be acquitted.

They filed a constitutional application claiming a breach of human rights because they were denied a trial within a reasonable time.

The men had been arraigned on December 14, 1990 charged with theft and handling stolen property.

In separate proceedings, Mr Urry is pleading not guilty to murdering taxi driver Matthew Zahra in August last year.