A magistrate this morning deferred a case because the defendant, a prisoner, turned out dressed in torn jeans and a t-shirt.

Prisoner Joseph Zahra, known as il-gurdien stands accused of animal cruelty.

At one point Magistrate Antonio Micallef Trigona asked where Mr Zahra was and the latter entered the court room plastic bag in hand and replied “aw hi”.

The magistrate told police that the accused should be taken to court properly dressed. He ordered that the prison authorities be made aware of this and make sure he was properly dressed next time.

Mr Zahra told the magistrate it was not his fault he had turned up dressed the way he was, all his clothes were torn and the prisons did not provide adequate clothing.