Man who stolen antique firearms jailed for four years

Mark Lawrence Rizzo, 44 of Zabbar, was also charged with damaging private and government property, handling stolen items, carried unlicensed firearms and relapsing.

Late in the evening of 21 February 2008, the accused together with accomplice Christoper Shepherd broke into the Customs General Examination Shed at the Marsa Industrial Estate, where 13 antique shotguns were stolen from the hold.

Taking the witness stand, prosecuting inspector Keith Arnaud explained that a year after the theft, Shepherd had been overheard complaining with others that Rizzo had kept the loot all to himself. The police later traced six shotguns to another man, Simon Spiteri, who told investigators that Rizzo had given him the shotguns in part-payment for a loan Spiteri had given him.

Rizzo denied being involved in the break-in, accusing Shepherd as the person who entered the hold while he waited outside to collect the stolen items, which he then loaded in Shepherd's car. His share of the loot had been six shotguns which he passed on to Spiteri.

In August 2009, Christopher Shepherd admitted to the charges against him. Magistrate Edwina Grima had handed him a two-and-a-half-year jail term.

Raymond Cauchi, the rightful owner of the shotguns, confirmed that the weapons had been imported from America at a cost of €95,000. Ballistics expert Maurice Callejja confirmed the value of each weapon at €5,110.

Magistrate Carol Peralta found Rizzo guilty of all charges leveled against him and imprisoned him for four years. The term Rizzo spent under protective custody will be deducted from his jail term.