A magistrates' court threw out the charges brought against a man after it found out that he was being tried for the second time for the same cause of action.

Emanuel Grima, 43, from Mellieha, was charged, before presiding magistrate Audrey Demicoli, of damaging a mobile phone and a watch on 3 April 2002.

However, Grima had already been found guilty of similar charges stemming from the same cause of action on 25 October 2006.

Citing both the Criminal Code and the Maltese Constitution, magistrate Demicoli ruled that Grima cannot be tried twice for the same cause of action and threw out the charges brought against him.

Police Inspector Joseph Mercieca prosecuted while Dr Roberto Montalto assisted the accused.