Three face theft charges - June 18, 2005

Three San Gwann men were yesterday charged with breaking into five establishments and trying to break into another four, after allegedly dislodging stones, to burgle the outlets.

Carmel Hartley, 33, Richard Anthony Edwards, 26, and Matthew Catania, 20, pleaded not guilty to trying to steal from In and Out Snack Bar, in Burmarrad and from St Anthony's Band Club, in Birkirkara on and before June 14.

Mr Hartley and Mr Edwards were charged with trying to steal from the Burmarrad snack bar and stealing from the band club on separate occasions.

They were also charged with breaking into Carina Delicatessen, in San Gwann, Auto Silencer Services, in Tarxien, and the Qormi Bocci Club and trying to steal from Power Centre Limited, in Ghaxaq.

Mr Hartley was charged with breaking into a Qormi garage and stealing a shotgun and other items, the illegal possession of a weapon, filing a false police report and stealing hub-caps from a car.

At the end of the sitting lawyer Beppe Fenech Adami, for Mr Edwards and Mr Catania, and lawyer David Camilleri, for Mr Hartley, asked for bail.

Police Inspector Michael Mallia, prosecuting, objected in the case of Mr Edwards arguing that the police had been looking for him for years over a pending court case during which he had breached bail conditions.

As for Mr Hartley, the officer objected due to the nature of the charges.

Magistrate Joseph Cassar denied the request for bail for all three men and recommended to the prison authorities to keep Mr Catania in the section for young men.