Two men accused of robberies targeting elderly women

Two men from Qormi were remanded in custody after being accused of two violent handbag thefts from elderly women, leaving both injured, one of them seriously.

Inspector Fabian Fleri and inspector Kylie Borg told the court that Tristan Falzon, 34, of Qormi, had denied involvement after the first incident that occurred on 12 November. But he was arrested again after another theft from an elderly woman on 20 November.

Falzon, who is unemployed, had told police that a mobile phone he had in his possession had been handed to him by Roderick Stanyer. Stanyer was arrested and the police discovered that Stanyer had stolen the handbag, while Falzon waited in a Skoda Felicia which was being driven by a third person.

Lawyer Mark Vassallo, representing Falzon, asked whether the eyewitness or victims had identified the thief. The prosecution replied that a Polish man who was passing by on his bicycle had identified the accused.

Stanyer, 30 of Qormi, was later charged with grievously injuring a 63-year-old woman while stealing her handbag in Pjazza Narbona in Qormi on 12 November. He was also charged with causing physical and mental suffering on an elderly person, together with theft aggravated by violence and the victim’s age.

Stanyer's lawyer Christopher Chircop, told the court that the accused would not be pleading guilty at this stage and requested bail. This request was objected to by the prosecution.

Stanyer's request for release was denied by the court in view of the serious nature of the charges.