Man cleared of attempted murder

A Libyan man was yesterday cleared of the attempted murder of his friend at their apartment four years ago but was jailed for a year after a jury found him guilty of seriously injuring him.

Moamr Ali Melad Eltarhuni, 27, was found not guilty by seven votes to two of trying to kill Shokri Ali Alalwani due to the element of self-defence.

He was found unanimously guilty of seriously injuring Mr Alalwani, which was, however, excusable due to sudden passion, and guilty by six votes to three of possessing a knife without the necessary licence.

On Monday, Mr Eltarhuni testified that he was attacked by Mr Alalwani on May 25, 2006 after Mr Alalwani returned home drunk and could not find a music CD. Mr Alalwani started punching Mr Eltarhuni on the head after the latter denied taking the CD.

He said that, acting in self-defence, he grabbed a knife he used for cutting bread and stabbed his friend because he just wanted him to stop hitting him.

In submissions on punishment, defence lawyer Joe Brincat said his client had a clean police record, was a young man, had always adhered to his bail conditions and had given himself up to the police.

The lawyer from the Attorney General's Office, Maurizio Cordina, said Mr Eltarhuni had used a knife and seriously injured his friend, a condemnable and unacceptable crime that deserved a prison sentence.

Mr Justice Joseph Galea Debono jailed Mr Eltrahuni for one year. Since he has already spent seven months under preventative arrest, which is automatically reduced from the sentence, he is left to serve one more month considering that a prison year is only eight months' long for good behaviour.