Four years jail for elderly woman's attacker

A drug addict who attacked a 75-year-old woman to steal her groceries and handbag was yesterday jailed for four years but his friend, who unknowingly served as the driver of the getaway car, was acquitted.

Allister Camilleri, 30, and Anthony Cutajar, 39, were looking for an apartment for Mr Camilleri because Mr Cutajar wanted his friend to move out of the apartment they shared. The two drove around Marsascala on December 7, 2007, when Mr Camilleri asked Mr Cutajar to pull over as he needed to answer a call of nature. After some time, he returned and told Mr Cutajar to drive off.

Unbeknown to Mr Cutajar, Mr Camilleri had robbed the elderly woman.

The crime was witnessed by a soldier who chased the car. He called the police who caught the men in Żejtun shortly afterwards.

Magistrate Edwina Grima said the prosecution had managed to prove that Mr Camilleri had committed the crime but not that Mr Cutajar was aware of it or had discussed the crime beforehand with Mr Camilleri.

In handing down judgment, the magistrate said Mr Camilleri had a number of convictions connected to attacking elderly people in similar circumstances.

She found Mr Cutajar not guilty and jailed Mr Camilleri for four years.

Police Inspector Anthony Portelli prosecuted.