The girlfriend of murder victim Giuseppe Cutajar, also known as il-Lion, has been acquitted of money laundering charges after the prosecution did not adequately prove that the money, yacht and jewels she owned were the proceeds of criminal conduct.

In May of 2012, Sharon Camilleri and Mr Cutajar, who was murdered seven months later, were arraigned in court and charged with money laundering. The couple had a two-year-old daughter and a four-month old baby at the time.

Police investigations revealed that although Mr Cutajar had been registering as unemployed since 2003, he actually owned three vehicles: a BMW 320, a Mitsubishi Colt and a Mitsubishi Pajero.

At the time, Mr Cutajar was the main suspect behind the murder of Kevin Gatt, who was shot dead in March 2012.

Five days after Mr Gatt's murder, Ms Camilleri visited the bank and asked to access the safety box in her name, which Mr Cutajar also made use of. She asked a cashier to count an amount of cash, which totalled €13,500.

Ms Camilleri had been registered as unemployed since 1998 and both the accused and Mr Cutajar received social security benefits. However, she had a 26 foot yacht registered in her name as well as €82,080 in cash stowed away in her safety box together with an amount of jewellery.

By way of explanation, the woman told the court that she had dated a string of men who had showered her with gifts, including an apartment, furniture and costly jewels. She said she was used to being pampered and treated well by the men she went out with.

The rest of the money actually belonged to her mother, the accused claimed, adding that she was keeping it for safekeeping during the process of her mother's separation.

Delivering judgment, Magistrate Joe Mifsud said that the court was not naive. However, although it had its doubts as to the provenance of her fortune, there was no proof that what she claimed was not true. Despite dating a man of a very dubious reputation, this was not enough to prove that her belongings were the result of criminal activity.

The court disagreed with the defence's argument that the accused was shown respect by the men when she was lavished with gifts, money, jewels and property.

“If a relationship is based on these things, the person would be building on sand and not on a solid foundation, as seems to have happened to the accused.”

Magistrate Mifsud noted that doubts in criminal proceedings always militated in favour of the accused. As the charges had not been proven beyond reasonable doubt, Ms Camilleri was acquitted.

Police inspector Antonovich Muscat prosecuted while lawyer Kathleen Grima appeared for the accused.