A man was yesterday cleared of damaging another man’s car due to lack of evidence.

Charles Cassar, 37, from Xghajra was found not guilty of damaging Christopher Cassar’s car on 4 February 2004. Mr Cassar is the partner of Charles Cassar’s estranged wife.

The court, presided over by Magistrate Giovanni Grixti, heard how on the day in question Christopher Cassar was at his shop in Triq Giuseppe Camilleri in Birkirkara. All of a sudden, at around 7.20pm, he heard a noise and when he looked, he saw a person in an Isuzu Trooper damaging a window of his car. He said he only saw a hand and did not see the man’s face but he managed to take down the van’s registration number.

The court heard how the Isuzu was owned by the defendant’s mother who testified that it was her son who used her car. The court heard how Charles Cassar’s estranged wife was living with Christopher Cassar.

Magistrate Giovanni Grixti said that although there were problems between the parties, this alone did not prove beyond reasonable doubt that it was the defendant who damaged Christopher Cassar’s car. Due to lack of evidence, Magistrate Grixti cleared Charles Cassar of all the charges brought against him.

Inspector Kevin J. Farrugia prosecuted while Dr Joseph Giglio and Dr Roberto Montalto appeared for the defendant.