Third man arraigned over 'postman' armed robbery

A third man has been arraigned over an armed robbery of an elderly woman at her home in Qormi earlier this month.

His two alleged accomplices, Mark Anthony Cardona and Ryan Briffa, were arraigned yesterday and remanded in custody. Patrick Mangion, 46, from Valletta had been taken ill yesterday before he was due to be arraigned, and was instead charged in court today.

The men stand accused of theft aggravated by violence, illegal arrest, slightly injuring the woman and carrying a knife during the commission of a crime.

They were also accused of being recidivists and Ryan Briffa alone was also charged with breaching bail conditions.

Inspector Fabian Fleri had told the court yesterday that on 11 January an elderly person in Qormi had answered a knock on the door from someone claiming to be a postman with a package. But as soon as she answered the door, the woman was tied up and robbed with even her CCTV decoder being taken.

All three are denying the charges.

Lawyer Alfred Abela, appearing for Mangion this morning, entered a not guilty plea and requested bail. The court presided by magistrate Simone Grech refused the request for bail, saying there was a risk of tampering with evidence, but upheld a subsidiary request that the man be held at the Forensic Unit at Mount Carmel Hospital, due to psychological problems.

Inspectors Fabian Fleri, Lydon Zammit and Roderick Agius are prosecuting.