A man has been jailed for 13 years for trying to kill two police officers during an attempted robbery of the Swieqi branch of Mid-Med Bank in 1996.

After 14 hours of deliberation, George Xuereb, 49, of Marsa, was found guilty by jurors – by seven votes to two – of the attempted murder of two mobile squad policemen who foiled the hold-up.

He was also found guilty, by eight votes against one, of trying to steal Lm100,000 (€233,000) from the bank, stealing a revolver from a bank security officer and complicity in stealing a van used during the hold-up.

Jurors were not convinced by the defence lawyer’s argument that there was only circumstantial evidence linking Mr Xuereb to the crime and that the prosecution was basing its case on “fantasies”.

Lawyers from the Attorney General’s Office had, on the other hand, insisted that a man who had already served time in jail over this crime, Joseph Polidano, “unequivocally” implicated Mr Xuereb, saying he was in the escape vehicle.

Mr Xuereb was responsible for the weapons, which were in a plastic bag found in the getaway van that had his fingerprints on it, the prosecution said.

He is the third man convicted in connection with the case. Mr Polidano and Carmelo Spiteri had been jailed for 10 years after admitting to the charges. Before handing down judgment, Mr Justice Michael Mallia took note of the legal submissions made by the prosecution and the defence. Lawyers Kevin Valletta and Lara Lanfranco, for the AG’s office, said that the case could have had far worse consequences and involved firing shots at police officers on duty.

They also noted that, in March 2012, Mr Xuereb was convicted of an attempted burglary at a private residence in February that year – showing he had not changed his ways.

But defence lawyer Raphael Fenech Adami asked the court to keep in mind that the case had dragged on for 18 years.

The hold-up took place at 10.30am on March 27, 1996, when a number of armed and hooded men entered the bank, now an HSBC branch.

The men ordered the bank’s security officer to lie face down on the floor and took his revolver.

A police mobile squad car happened to stop at a nearby petrol station and the officers realised there was a problem.

The robbers opened fire at them as they made their escape, according to testimony heard by the court.

Police fired back, injuring two of the robbers who still managed to drive off in a stolen van.

During the chase the van crashed into another car and three men got out.

Mr Polidano, who was injured, stopped and was arrested. The others escaped.

A month after the hold-up, Mr Spiteri had not returned home and was reported missing. He was found at the house of his uncle – Mr Xuereb – who was also investigated and eventually arraigned.