Cini was cleared of damaging the residence and car belonging to Alfred Chircop in Republic Street, Valletta on 6 April 2002 and also of driving a Ford Mondeo in a dangerous manner.

Handing down his judgement, magistrate Antonio Mizzi said the prosecution had produced conflicting evidence in court and he also noted that from the very beginning of the case, the defendant had maintained that at the time of the alleged incident he was in Paceville.

Cini was fined Lm500 and ordered not to approach the Chircop family for a year.

Police inspector Pierre Micallef Grimaud prosecuted while Dr Joe Giglio and Dr Roberto Montalto appeared for the accused.