Man due to stand trial for fatal mugging jailed for stealing car doors

A 33-year-old unemployed man from Cospicua who is due to stand trial for taking part in a robbery which led to the death of an 80-year-old woman in Sliema has been jailed for two and a half years after pleading guilty to stealing four doors of a parked vehicle.

Charlie Brincat also admitted to committing the crime during the operative period of a suspended sentence and to relapsing.

The incident occurred on Thursday afternoon at around 12:30pm in Triq il-Polverista, Bormla, when Brincat stole four car doors from a parked Peugeot. The vehicle was parked in front of a mechanic and had been waiting for repairs.

In his decree, Magistrate Anthony Vella argued that the accused has been given several chances to reform, and as a result of him ignoring the court’s warnings, “there is no other alternative but to send him to jail.”

In its submissions, the defence argued that the accused cooperated with police and that he needs to undergo a rehabilitation programme to treat a drinking problem.

Notwithstanding the defence’s plea, the court jailed the man to a year in prison for stealing the car doors, and also ordered that an 18-month suspended prison sentence comes into effect.

Brincat is due to face a trial by jury after he and two other accomplices had pleaded not guilty to robbing an 80-year-old woman and causing her death as a result of their violent act.

The fatal mugging had taken place on December 8, 2010 when the victim, Rose Garroni, was first robbed of her handbag and was then left for dead on the doorstep of her apartment, before she succumbing to her injuries a few days later.

Inspector Robert Said Sarreo prosecuted.