A fingerprint mark on a car belonging to the victim of a €50,000 armed robbery led to the re-arrest of a suspect three months after he had been released because of lack of evidence, a magistrate heard yesterday.
Police Inspector Michael Mallia, prosecuting, testified that David Mifsud, 28, a drug addict, was re-arrested last week after forensic tests revealed his fingerprint on his former boss’s car after a hold-up.
Mr Mifsud, of Pietà, is pleading not guilty to stealing the money from Doriette Tedesco on September 15 and to holding her against her will. The man used to work for Ms Tedesco but his stint at one of her restaurants only lasted a week.
Mr Mallia said the police were informed that Ms Tedesco had been robbed at about 5.45 p.m. just a few metres away from her residence in Naxxar.
Suffering from severe shock, she told the police she had just parked in front of her house when a car drew up close and stopped in the middle of the road. Two people wearing baseball caps and dark sunglasses stepped out of the car and walked up to hers and one of them opened the door of her BMW, the prosecuting officer told Magistrate Audrey Demicoli.
The one who opened the car door took her handbag that contained about €50,000 in cash, her personal belongings and documents.
Ms Tedesco also told the police one of the men carried something, which she could not identify, and which was thrown onto the road as the assailants got back into their car and drove away. It was a wooden baton which the police found under a parked car, he said.
Ms Tedesco described the getaway car to the police and said its licence plate was very similar to SAW 608, which, however, did not exist. When the police searched the streets around Ms Tedesco’s house, they found an abandoned Toyota Corolla, with a similar licence plate number, which had been reported stolen on September 14.
Mr Mallia explained that Ms Tedesco ran two restaurants in Bay Street, Paceville and on September 15 had left one of them at about 5.20 p.m.
Footage taken from security cameras revealed that one of her employees, Roderick Baldacchino, walked out of the restaurant’s kitchen at 5.35 p.m. and called Mr Mifsud’s mobile number, Mr Mallia said. Investigations revealed Mr Mifsud’s mobile phone was located in the Burmarrad area, Mr Mallia said.
Mr Baldacchino, Mr Mifsud and a third person – Kevin Cassar – were arrested soon after but released because of lack of evidence. However, forensic tests last week revealed Mr Mifsud’s fingerprint on Ms Tedesco’s car, which led to his re-arrest, he explained.
Mr Mifsud was remanded in custody until the case continues in January.
Police Inspector Joseph Mercieca also prosecuted. Lawyer Malcolm Mifsud appeared for Mr Mifsud.