An eyewitness told police how she saw a man, who she identified as the accused, inside her mother’s car soon before this was engulfed in flames.

Police Inspector Stephen Mallia explained how Roxanne Scicluna told police that she had seen Anthony Borg in the passenger’s seat of her mother’s car. Inspector Mallia was testifying in the compilation of evidence against Mr Borg, 23, from Sliema, who is pleading not guilty to setting several cars on fire in Birkirkara on 30 December and to stealing two car stereos from the torched cars.

Inspector Mallia continued to explain that Ms Scicluna told police that on her way home that night, she saw a man who she said she knew by sight in her mother’s car some time before this was engulfed in flames. She told police that she did not stop to speak to him because she was scared, the police inspector continued.

She said that when she arrived home, she woke up her sister and her mother’s partner, to tell them about the man inside her mother’s car. She said that by the time they went in the balcony window, they saw Mr Borg leaving in his car.

Testifying before Magistrate Anthony Vella, the inspector continued that the police received a report that Ms Scicluna’s car was set on fire. When they arrived on scene, the police discovered that apart from the Skoda Favorit, another two cars – a Toyota Corolla and an Opel Kadett – were also set alight. He said that yet another car, this time a Fiat 127, was also on fire up the same street while a van had also been damaged by fire.

Inspector Mallia continued that during the investigations, the police learnt that two car stereos had been stolen.

He said that when examined, the police discovered that the car was set on fire using papers from the glove compartment and a towel that was on the dashboard. These were placed on the front seat of the car and set alight.

Inspector Mallia said that Roxanne Scicluna told police that she had seen Mr Borg earlier that evening at a local band club. He said that when the police went to Mr Borg’s residence in Sliema at about 2.30am, they found that the car’s engine was still warm, indicating that it had been used some time before. But Mr Borg, Inspector Mallia said, continued to insist that he had been home since 11.30pm the previous evening.

Inspector Mallia said Mr Borg denied his involvement in any of the fires, and added that during a search in his car, the police found one of the stolen stereos in the car boot. Mr Borg’s explanation was that his friend had given him the stereo.

The case continues.

Police Inspector Stephen Mallia prosecuted while Dr Franco Debono and Dr Charmaine Cherrett represented Mr Borg.