Cleared of attempted murder

A man was yesterday cleared of attempted murder by a jurors' unanimous verdict.

Terence William Zammit was however found guilty of inflicting slight injuries on Mario Farrugia through negligence.

Mr Justice Joseph Galea Debono, presiding over the Criminal Court, noted that Zammit had been charged with the attempted murder of Farrugia from whom he had borrowed money at very high rates of interest.

Zammit was charged with having fired a gun at Farrugia's face.

After the jurors' verdict, the court noted that Zammit had been acquitted of charges of attempted murder but that the jurors had found him guilty of causing injury to Farrugia through negligence. He was also found guilty, by unanimous verdict, of unlawful possession of a firearm.

Mr Justice Galea Debono noted that Farrugia showed no resentment towards Zammit however the court could not ignore the fact that Zammit had acted with great imprudence.

Zammit was sentenced to one year's imprisonment, suspended for four years.