Drug addict pleads not guilty to theft

A 22-year-old drug addict was remanded in custody today after he pleaded not guilty to stealing gold from a 69-year-old woman in a snatch and grab incident. Kersten Camilleri of Valletta, was charged with stealing a gold chain, a gold cross, a gold pendant and a gold ring from Iris Mizzi in Marina Street, Kalkara on April 4. He was also charged with committing a crime during the operative period of a suspended jail term and relapsing. Police inspector Carlos Cordina told the court that the stolen gold ring was of particular sentimental value to Mrs Mizzi as her husband had given it to her a month before he died. He said that although the accused denied his involvement in a police statement, when the actual robbery happened, it was witnessed by neighbours who identified both the accused and his car. Inspector Cordina said it seemed the accused had a gambling problem because he had told him that in a few weeks he had managed to accumulate a debt of €25,000 through gambling. Defence lawyer Jose Herrera said his client also had psychiatric and drug problems, had had a bad upbringing, did not have a father figure and had no control in his life. He did not ask for bail but asked the...