The ex-boyfriend of Mario Camilleri l-Imniehru’s daughter has been cleared of stealing from the Camilleri home, as well as of buying goods using the stolen money.

The incident took place on 8 March 2005, and involved Mr Camilleri’s daughter, Sarah Camilleri, the accused, Luke Farrugia, as well as another man.

Emanuela Camilleri, Mario’s wife, had claimed that some Lm30,000 (roughly €70,000) had gone missing from the house. In subsequent version of events, it was alleged that the accused had bought sports shoes as well as a puppy costing around Lm450 with the money that was allegedly stolen.

When speaking with the police as well as testifying, Sarah Camilleri relayed conflicting versions of events, first without implicating the accused and pinning the incident on a third party, and then fully implicating the accused, where she said that he was present at the home of her parents while she took the money from a drawer.

In her second version of events, she said that the accused had been in a car accident a few days before. He allegedly told her he was in a lot of trouble and needed money to fix the car. She said Mr Farrugia and another man had gone to her parents’ house when she told them she had the money. She later told them that she wanted to leave home because she was fed up of living with her family.

Under oath, she said that she gave Mr Farrugia Lm8,000, while she believed that the third person had taken the remaining Lm28,000.

Mr Farrugia categorically denied the version of events as relayed by Sarah Camilleri and denied being involved in the theft or ever receiving any money from her.

The court, presided over by Magistrate Ian Farrugia, observed the lack of credibility in the testimony of Sarah Camilleri, noting the differing versions given. The defence also argued that the testimony of Sarah’s mother, Emanuela Camilleri, also lacked credibility.

The court noted that the entire case rested on the prosecution’s ability to prove, beyond reasonable doubt, that the accused had committed the theft in question. Magistrate Farrugia noted inconsistencies by all parties, and could not therefore conclude with certainty that Mr Farrugia was complicit in the theft.

He also noted that the prosecution had made a case of probable cause, but failed to prove the case beyond a shadow of a doubt.

The court therefore had no choice but to acquit Mr Farrugia of the charges.

Drug baron Mario Camilleri and his son Mario Junior were murdered and buried in a field in Birzebbugia in 2013.