Lawyer for homeless teen denounces society's 'hypocrisy'

Society has failed a homeless 19-year-old Maltese youth who was charged with breaking into six vehicles to steal less than €10 in small change, a court has been told.

The accusation was made this morning as Inspector Elliott Magro charged troubled youth Justin Mamo with six counts of voluntary damage, as well as simple theft and insulting police officers in an arraignment before magistrate Charmaine Galea this morning.

The youth, who smashed the windows of six cars parked on Spencer Hill in Marsa on Wednesday, is understood to have been arrested after he walked from Marsa to the Floriana health centre, seeking medical help for cuts that he had suffered from the broken glass.

Mamo is unemployed and homeless. He had been placed in a care home at a young age by his mother, after his father's death by drug overdose, the court was told. The accused is also understood to have a drug problem.

The rake-thin accused, still dressed in ragged shorts and a faded t-shirt, held his arm behind his back as he stood in the dock, shifting his weight from one leg to the other as the prosecution and defence approached the bench to discuss the case.

He pleaded guilty as charged.

At a point during the sitting, the accused argued with his lawyer, insisting that he wanted to go to Mount Carmel Hospital, where he was already meeting with a psychiatrist as an outpatient. “I'm not going to prison,” he said defiantly. “That is not for you to decide,” the magistrate replied.

Lawyer Yanika Bugeja, appearing for the teen, told the court that he had told her that he would voluntarily admit himself to the facility. Inspector Magro pointed out, however, that voluntary admittance would also imply voluntary discharge.

The accused had no family or mobile phone, the court was told. The only means of contacting him would be through a priest who saw him every day.

In view of his admission, the court found Mamo guilty, placing him under a probation and supervision order for three years. “I could have sent you to prison for four years. Instead I'm going to appoint a probation officer to take care of you. But if you don't obey her instructions, you will go to prison. If you carry on stealing, you will go to prison,” the magistrate warned.

After the sentence was passed, Bugeja expressed her appreciation at the chance the court had given her client. “Society has failed this man. We help outsiders at the drop of a hat, but nobody has helped this Maltese citizen who hasn't even got a roof over his head.”