Witness describes how alleged armed robber was caught

The daughter of the owners of a Bugibba jewellery shop called her brother as an armed robber left the premises and explained to him in which direction he had run off, a court heard yesterday.

When the brother came across the robber, he followed him to Kennedy Grove and liaised with police until they arrived on the scene and apprehended him.

The brother, Mark Anthony Saliba, testified before Magistrate Abigail Lofaro in the compilation of evidence against Steve Testa, 24, of Marsa, who is pleading not guilty to an armed robbery at Solid Gold Jewellery in Bugibba on June 27 at about 9 p.m.

He is also charged with holding owner Mary Saliba and her daughter Claire Tanti, among other people, against their will.

Magistrate Lofaro yesterday ruled there were enough reasons for Testa's indictment.

Mark Anthony Saliba said he was in his garage when his sister phoned to tell him there had been a hold-up at their parents' jewellery shop. She described what the robber was wearing and told him that he escaped towards the church.

Saliba got into his car and drove towards the church. On his way he spied a man carrying a gun running towards Kennedy Grove. The man fitted the description given by Saliba's sister and he followed him, calling police to alert them that the thief was hiding among the trees.

Inspector Carmelo Magri explained how he learnt of the hold-up and that a suspect had been arrested. He interrogated Testa who cooperated and explained that he had planned the hold-up because he needed money.

The inspector said police found an airgun, tights and tear gas at the place where Testa was arrested. Testa explained that he had taken the tear gas with him just in case he was outnumbered.

Mary Saliba said she had been at the shop with her daughter when she heard shouting and saw clients run out of the shop. The intruder, who wore a red top and whose face was covered with nylon stockings, was holding her daughter at gun point and she approached him from behind and pulled him off. He ran away.

Claire Tanti said she was serving customers in her parents' jewellery shop when she spied a person walking up to her from the corner of her eye. She turned her head and realised he was masked and carrying a firearm.

The robber grabbed hold of her, pointed the gun at her head and ordered her to give him money. She started screaming and told him that she did not have any money. She then offered him a Lm10 note a customer had just given her and he snatched it. Meanwhile her mother pulled her aside and he ran off.

Tanti said she called her brother and gave him a description of the robber and explained in which direction he had run off.

At the end of yesterday's sitting, Testa was granted bail against a personal guarantee of Lm3,000.

The case continues.

Police Inspector Magri prosecuted.

Dr Stefano Filletti appeared for Testa.