The Parish Priest of Cospicua chose to embrace two people who were charged with stealing various ornaments and blessed objects from the Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception last July.

When Fr Anton Cassar was asked whether he would forgive the pair, he responded by saying he'd go a step further, and proceeded to hug them during criminal proceedings this morning.

Magistrate Yana Micallef Stafrace, presiding over the compilation of evidence, heard the priest's testimony as part of evidence against 20-year-old Marflene Chricciola and 18-year-old Gianluca Sultanta, both from Cospicua.

The stolen goods were recovered after the accused delivered a confession, and were found in a house in Cospicua. Some of the items, found behind a water tank on the roof, include chalices and jewellery.

The pair were accused of aggravated theft, damaging cultural property, damaging third party property and damaging works of art - the glass niche enclosing the statue of the Virgin Mary.

After completing his testimony, those present in the court room were pleasantly surprised to see Cassar approaching the accused, shaking their hands and hugging them.

Prosecuting Inspector Joseph Mercieca had requested information relating Chricciola's date relating to 10 phone calls on the day of the break in, through the mobile service provider.

A police sergeant had been told that the stolen items were in the area surrounding the water tank, and told the court how together with the bag a note read "Don't blame anybody. I was engaged to prepare a frame-up but I wasn't paid".

Inspectors Joseph Mercieca, Saviour Baldacchino and Christabel Chetcuti are prosecuting. Lawyers Marion Camilleri and Yanika Vidal are appearing on behalf of Marflene Cricchiola whilst lawyers Franco Debono and Amadeus Cachia represented Gianluca Sultana in the proceedings.