Jonathan Grech, 29 and his father George, 60, both of St Paul's Bay, this morning pleaded not guilty in court to having set fire to a boat called the Comino Princess in September 2000 and being accomplices in the destruction of another boat, the Mermaid in 2007.

In a related case, Christopher Coleiro, 30 of Birkirkara, pleaded not guilty to having given false testimony to a public officer.

Lawyers Joseph Brincat and Arthur Azzopardi pleaded that the cases were time barred.

The court said it would hear evidence in the case.

The Grechs were granted bail against a guarantee of €10,000 while Mr Coleiro was allowed bail against a guarnatee of €5,000.

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