A man who was arraigned in 1998 on the basis of his nickname has been cleared of trafficking heroin.

Patrick Mangion, 41, from Qormi, was acquitted after Magistrate Natasha Galea Sciberras heard there was 'absolutely no evidence' linking him to drug trafficking.

It resulted in court that Mr Mangion's nickname, Il-Twila, had been mentioned to the police during investigations into the death of a certain Brian Abela, known as Il-Paħaħħ, who had died of a heroin overdose.

They had spoken to drug addict Francis Degiorgio, who told them he had seen Mr Abela with a person whose name he did not know but who was known as It-Twila.

Mr Degiorgio, the prosecution’s main witness, testified that it was It-Twila he had seen with the deceased but noted that it was not the accused.

From the outset, Mr Mangion denied involvement and said Mr Degiorgio had lied about him.

The magistrate noted that Mr Degiorgio, who was suffering depression, gave confusing accounts and, in view of such doubt and the outright denial by the accused, Mr Mangion could not be found guilty of the charges.

Lawyer Arthur Azzopardi appeared for Mr Mangion.