MV Liberty to shelter accused

The MV Liberty will provide temporary shelter for 29-year old Jeffrey Cassar who was locked out of his family residence while out on bail. 

At the beginning of the hearing, prosecuting inspector Josric Mifsud told the magistrate he had just been informed the facts of the case had changed. 

"Mere moments ago I've been informed that Cassar was outside his family home as his relatives had kicked him out of the house and locked him outside. He was not outside voluntarily".

Allegedly the man was thrown out of the house after an argument with his uncle and grandfather. 

Last night, police officers apprehended Cassar outside his family house in Mosta. The man was arrested on site as he was found to be in breach of bail conditions imposed in three separate cases. He was also accused of breaching a probation order and relapsing. 

Magistrate Gabriella Vella held she finds no guilt in the accused as he did not have the will to commit the offence. However the accused could not stay at his family's residence in order to pre-empt further incidents. 

Meanwhile, Martin Cachia, a friend of Cassar informed the court he was willing to let the accused make use of his boat as a temporary residence until an alternative shelter is found. Cachia's boat, the MV Liberty is currently berthed at Ras Hanzir, Marsa. The prosecution did not object. Magistrate Vella accepted the arrangement and made the necessary changes to Cassar's bail conditions so he can now sign the bail book at the Marsa police station. 

Cassar's mother, present in the hall, argued against the magistrate's decision to acquit the accused of breaching bail, stating she had already filed a police report against him. 

Magistrate Gabriella Vella instructed the woman to calm down and urged both parties to use logical sense in order to help each other find a peaceful solution to their differences.  

Lawyers Noel Bianco and Mark Busuttil appeared for the accused.