A married couple was yesterday accused of carrying out a hold-up in Soshique Beauty Clinic, in Fgura, where they allegedly tied the hands and legs of the owner and threatened to kill her with a knife.

Amadeo Grima, 30, and Helen Grima, 23, both of Birżebbuġa, pleaded not guilty of stealing €300 and a laptop from the salon, and threatening to kill 32-year-old Analise Trapani on February 3.

The hold-up took place at 9 a.m., when the Grima duo allegedly tied Ms Trapani with a rope and took it in turns to threaten her, with a knife to her throat, that they would kill her unless she gave them the money. The ordeal lasted for about 10 minutes.

Mr Grima was also accused of breaking the conditions of a suspended sentence which he received for the theft of an unmarked police car in 2006.

He had been found guilty of stealing a white Ford Sierra, which a policeman had left open and with the engine running when he stopped in Ħamrun to buy cheesecakes.

The couple did not request bail.

Magistrate Audrey Demicoli presided over the case. Inspector Daniel Zammit led the prosecution while José Herrera appeared for the accused.