Conditional discharge for stealing antiques

A Gozitan man has been conditionally discharged for three years for stealing antiques from a neighbour's house four years ago.

Magistrate Giovanni Grixti heard how Carmel Haber said he had climbed over a wall and into the house of his late neighbour, Carmel Gatt, because, while on his death bed, Gatt had told him to take the furniture as compensation for helping him some time earlier.

Haber claimed that this did not constitute theft but the magistrate ruled that Haber's behaviour, that is entering a property the way he did, was theft.

Police Inspector Paul Vassallo prosecuted.