A man was yesterday cleared of selling alcohol to a minor and causing him grievous bodily harm, with the court citing lack of prosecution evidence.

Stephan Barbara, 30, was cleared of selling alcohol to a minor on 29 July from the establishment Piu Dolce in Marsascala. He was also cleared of selling alcohol after trading hours.

The court noted that the prosecution had no proof as to the name of the shop where the alcohol was bought and also had not put forward any documentation to prove the age of the minor who had purchased alcohol from the store, which also remained unidentified.

The accused was therefore cleared of all charges. Police Inspector Alexander Grech prosecuted while Dr Robert Abela appeared for the accused.