David Julius Carmelino Sciberras, 21, was acquitted of being an accomplice in the theft of a car and damaging the same car, in September 2004, due to lack of evidence.

Mr Sciberras had been accused of acting as an accomplice with other unknown persons, in the theft of a Ford Fiesta valued at more than e2,329 (Lm1,000) owned by Agius Car Hire in Qawra, on the night between 27 and 28 September 2004.

He was also charged with causing less than e1,164 (Lm500) damage to the vehicle.

The court, presided over by magistrate Audrey Demicoli, heard how the car had been hired to a French tourist who had parked the car in Garcia Toledo Street, Qawra. It also heard that on 28 September 2004, Mr Sciberras and a certain Martin Barry King, who since then had left Malta and could not be traced, were given the car by Marian Perrone who had previously shown Mr Sciberras a skeleton key with which he could open Ford Fiestas. Mr Sciberras and Mr King took the car to a car wash, which coincidentally belonged to the owner of the car.

Mr Sciberras was told by the owner’s son, who happened to be a friend of his, that the car belonged to his father. Mr Sciberras promised to give the car back, however the police found the car parked in the street where he and Mr King were living.

In handing down the judgement, magistrate Demicoli said that the prosecution had failed to provide enough evidence to show that Mr Sciberras had damaged the car. The magistrate added that the prosecution failed to identify the person who actually stole the car, or that the accused participated in the theft. Thus, she acquitted Mr Sciberras of the charges brought against him.

Police Inspector Joseph Mercieca prosecuted while Dr Stefano Filletti appeared for Mr Sciberras.