Man acquitted of fraud, misappropriation and assault

A man facing a long listed of charges including fraud, misappropriation, and using force against two other persons, was acquitted by a court due to insufficient evidence.In 2007, 51-year-old Lawrence Rizzo from Paola had been charged in connection with a fight which had broken out in Żabbar between himself and two other men – Kevin Portelli and Antoine Cassar.The latter had claimed that Mr Rizzo had failed to deliver two televisions to them despite having been paid €460 for them. Though Mr Rizzo had refunded them €150, he had failed to reimburse the rest of the sum, Mr Cassar said. During the fight the accused had fractured his pinkie toe as it got stuck in an aluminium door, which in legal terms amounted to a grievous injury. The other party, Mr Portelli and Mr Cassar, claimed that the defendant had continued to make threats over the phone, even after this incident, and try instigate them to fight him. Subsequently, the two men were charged in connection with the case and filed a guilty plea.On the other hand, Mr Rizzo was accused of defrauding and misappropriating €460, as well as assaulting, threatening and reviling Mr Cassar and Mr Portelli. The prosecution had also charged...