Ivan Galea, 29, Anthony Zammit, 25, and 21-year-old Tristan Falzon pleaded not guilty to attempting to seriously injure two police officers in Ghar Lapsi whom they tried to run down on 25 April at 3.30pm.

It is understood that a woman reported that three men had stolen her necklace and that she had seen them make their getaway in a Ford Cortina. A police Administrative and Law Enforcement Unit patrol car was in the area and came across the Cortina which was hurtling towards Zurrieq at breakneck speed.

The driver eventually lost control and the car skidded to a halt but when the police officers tried to apprehend them, it is understood that the Cortina was driven towards them. The police, however, called for back-up and the situation was resolved with the arrest of the three men.

The accused were also charged with assaulting and threatening the three officers and damaging their uniforms.

They were further charged with stealing the car in question, a mobile phone, and two necklaces on 24 April, and with wilfully damaging the Ford Cortina, dangerous and negligent driving, speeding, driving without a licence and insurance cover and

disobeying police orders.

Anthony Zammit and Ivan Galea alone were accused of stealing another vehicle from Birkirkara on 25 April and Zammit and Falzon were accused of relapsing in view of previous convictions.

The accused’s lawyers requested bail on their behalf. However, the prosecution, led by Inspector Alex Miruzzi, said the charges against the accused were very serious. In addition, two of them had only just been given a conditional discharge and a suspended police sentence for other offences of which they had been found guilty. The court, presided over by Magistrate Michael Mallia, refused the bail requests.

Police Inspector Michael Mallia and Alex Miruzzi prosecuted while Dr Robert Abela, Dr Chris Cardona and Dr Silvio Brincat appeared for the defence.