A firearms collector has established that a stolen pistol which was allegedly used in a hold-up and subsequently seized by the police in 2004 had been returned to him after all.

There were fears this morning that the pistol had gone missing while being held by the police.

The absence of the pistol was noticed this morning during the trial of Aaron Cassar, 32, of Kirkop, and Noel Frendo, 36, of Qawra, who stand charged with stealing some €7,000 during a hold-up in Qawra in July 2004.

The court was told yesterday that the pistol used in the hold-up had been stolen from a collection.

The owner of the collection, Victor Micallef, told the court this morning that 113 pistols and other weapons were stolen from his house in 2003, about a year before the hold-up.

Prosecutor Dr Lara Lanfranco asked if he had been given back the stolen pistol used in the hold-up.

Mr Micallef said he had not.

Defence counsel Chris Cardona asked if it was still at police headquarters whereupon Dr Lanfranco said she had ensured that all items seized by the police in connection with this case were brought to court to be exhibited. Once it was not at the court, it therefore appeared to be missing, she said.

Mr Justice Michael Mallia ordered that the Commissioner of Police be notified so that an investigation could be carried out.

However it later resulted that the weapon had been returned by the police to the collector.