Court rejects deaf-mute’s appeal from hold-up conviction

A thief who admitted to committing five hold-ups in Zebbug between 2010 and 2011, had his appeal turned down and his four-year prison term confirmed.

53-year-old Emanuel Bartolo had admitted to stealing from De Rohan Pharmacy, Santa Maria Pharmacy, The Crop Seller Green Grocer, Intimate underwear shop and Patrizio Hair Studio, all in Zebbug. During the four hold-ups, Bartolo carried an unlicensed weapon. In March last year, the Court of Magistrates handed him a four-year jail term.

The court of appeal heard Bartolo, deaf-mute from birth, submit that he had a right to have his sentence reduced by one-third of the original sentence. Bartolo also said that he was mentally unable to reason like a man his age, and that he willingly admitted his guilt and fully cooperated with the police.

The convict is permanently residing at Mount Carmel Hospital.

Mr Justice Michael Mallia declared that the Court of Magistrates had already taken these submissions into consideration, imposing the minimum punishment, and rejected his appeal.