A 19-year-old youth yesterday pleaded not guilty to charges of complicity in holding an elderly couple against their will in an attempted robbery that took place two years ago.

The man, whose name is not being published by court order because he was a minor at the time of the crime, pleaded not guilty to complicity in holding Grazia and Francesco Camilleri against their will and threatening them.

The man also pleaded not guilty to the charges of complicity of holding their grandchildren Lee and Stephanie Cortis and seriously injuring Mrs Camilleri.

He was also charged with being in possession of firearms and driving without an insurance on 26 October 2005.

Prosecuting inspector Joseph Mercieca told the court, presided over by magistrate Doreen Clarke, how the man was being charged as an accomplice of two other men.

Inspector Mercieca said that the two men had already been convicted for their involvement in the attempted robbery – one was jailed for five years and the other for three years.

The youth was granted bail against a Lm300 deposit and a personal guarantee of Lm1,000.

Police inspector Joseph Mercieca prosecuted while Dr Franco Debono appeared for the youth.