Woman 'robbed of rent money'

An Irish woman was on her way to pay three months' rent, on behalf of a friend of hers, when a man pushed her to the ground and took off with her handbag, a court was told yesterday.

The woman, Elaine Cecelia Murphy, told Magistrate Anthony Vella that she recognised her aggressor to be a man she met in a bar that same week. Ms Murphy took the witness stand in the compilation of evidence against Briton Gary Anthony Wingfield, 26, who is pleading not guilty to robbing her of a bag containing Lm375 in Qawra on June 4.

He is also pleading not guilty to threatening police and trying to steal a car on August 18.

In her testimony Ms Murphy said she recognised the person who snatched her bag to be a certain Gary whom she had met that week. She explained that she used to work at a bar and Mr Wingfield had gone to the bar and they got talking.

Magistrate Vella also heard Police Inspector Raymond Cassar, prosecuting, explain how Ms Murphy had reported that a person known as Alfie's son had stolen her bag.

Then, on August 19, the police were called to Qawra where there was a fight between an Irish man and the accused, whom they learnt was known as Alfie's son.

It turned out that Mr Wingfield had tried to steal the man's car, said the inspector.

When the police arrested Mr Wingfield, who was drunk, and took him to the police station, he insulted the officers and continued to be aggressive.

"At the police station he complimented us with a series of interesting titles and even threatened to shoot us," Inspector Cassar said.

The following morning Mr Wingfield apologised for his actions and released a statement in which he admitted trying to steal the car.

He explained that he was going to buy the car but its owner had refused to give him the keys when he asked for them. He denied robbing Ms Murphy.

Lawyer Mark Busuttil appeared for Mr Wingfield.