Man says was lured into house by woman seeking help before being beaten, mugged
The front door closed behind him, and two men assaulted him, the court heard
A 25-year-old homeless man was back in the dock on Friday in connection with a violent theft that saw a man allegedly lured into a house after being asked to help a woman, before being beaten and mugged.
Last Friday, police were contacted by the alleged victim, who said he had been walking in Marsa when a woman approached him and asked for his help carrying some items, police inspector Sarah Kathleen Zerafa told a court earlier today.
The woman signalled the alleged victim into her house, but when the man entered, the door closed behind him, and two men assaulted him, stealing two mobile phones and his wallet, among other items, before throwing him out of the house.
The man went to file a police report.
A man and woman were arraigned over the weekend in connection with the case.
Christian Cali, of no fixed address and who appeared in court Friday, was the last of the trio to be arraigned.
Cali was accused of aggravated theft, being an accomplice in the theft, holding a person against his will and causing slight injuries to the man.
He also faced charges of not obeying legitimate police orders, being in possession of psychoactive drugs, breaching a treatment order and breaching a set of bail conditions.
He was also charged with recidivism.
Calì denied the charges.
Bail was not requested at this stage.
Magistrate Astrid May Grima presided.
AG lawyer Miryea Mifsud prosecuted, assisted by police inspector Sarah Kathleen Zerafa.
Lawyer José Herrera assisted the accused.