A magistrate has expressed concern about the dangers posed to society by an increase in the use of unlicensed firearms. as well as the practice of registering vehicles on third parties rather than the driver’s name.
Magistrate Joe Mifsud made his remarks during the arraignment of a car wash employee who was accused of firing a shot which left a gaping hole in the door of an elderly woman’s residence. The incident happened on the afternoon of November 19, in Luqa Road, Paola, but the woman only discovered what happened the following morning.
Melvin Debono, 26, from Paola, who is on bail over a separate court case related to drugs, denied all charges. He was remanded in custody.
Police inspector Chantelle Casha told the court that on November 19 the woman heard a loud bang at around 4.50pm but only discovered what had caused it on the following day when a nurse visited her home and noticed a hole in the main door.
The police subsequently found a bullet case. The motive for the shooting was not known.
The accused was traced on the strength of CCTV footage which showed somebody firing from the driving seat a white Mercedes.
Although the vehicle was registered in the name of the defendant's father, the defendant had told the police that he was the only person who made use of it. His father did not have a driving licence.
Mr Debono was also accused of being in possession and carrying an unlicensed firearm, reckless driving and causing between €250 and €2,500 in damages to a third party.
During bail submissions, the defence led by lawyers Franco Debono and Marion Camilleri insisted that the evidence against their client was “weak” as the identity of the driver who was at the wheel of the car used in the shooting, had not been identified from the CCTV footage.
The prosecution, however, argued that the defendant’s insistence that he was the only one who made use of the car left little doubt on the matter.
Magistrate Joe Mifsud denied the bail request. He also expressed concern over the increasing availability of unlicensed firearms which he said was posing a danger to society. The court also expressed concern on the practice of registering vehicles on third party, and not on their user.