Three years on guilty plea to jewellers’ hold-up

A man accused of carrying out a hold-up in 2010 was sentenced to three years' imprisonment, after admitting to his crime.

"My children are growing up and I'm not enjoying time with them. I went to prison when I was 15 and spent 16 years there over convictions of petty theft to fuel my drug addiction," accused Michael Zahra told the court of Magistrate Carol Peralta.

Having just delivered convicted him, Peralta heard how the accused had turned to stealing to buy drugs. "Much good it did me, especially when it escalated to hold-ups," Zahra said, saying he had kicked the habit and been clean for the past 18 months.

After hearing the accused's concerns, Peralta reached out to Zahra telling him he was ready to give him help or advice should he ever need it.

Zahra admitted his involvement in a botched hold-up on 79-year-old jeweller Frank Zampa, in St Lucia Street, Valletta on 18 September 2010. He was also charged with holding the victim against his will, seriously injuring him, being in possession of weapons and relapsing.

Zahra was charged alongside Jason Galea - who currently stands charged with the murder of the notorious Mario Camilleri 'l-Imniehru' and his son Mario - but the same court decided to split the proceedings. Galea had pleaded not guilty and was released on bail, however his bail was revoked after he was charged with the Camilleri murders.

Galea today reiterated his denial of being an accomplice in the attempted theft on the jeweller. "My wife and children are at home dying of hunger as I keep being denied bail and had to close my business," the accused told the court. The sitting was again postponed after Galea opted to change his lawyer. The next sitting is scheduled for 19 February 2014.

The elderly jeweller had resisted the robbers who attacked him with an iron bar, a taser gun and a handgun. In the brawl, the revolver went off, grazing the jeweller's face. The victim was rushed to hospital, as the empty-handed robbers ran to their getaway vehicle which was waiting for them at Victoria Gate, Valletta.

A third man, Marcus John Calleja was also imprisoned for three years after admitting his involvement. His case was concluded in July 2011.