Kenneth Ellul was yesterday jailed for 12 years after jurors found him guilty of robbing and beating former Labour MP Anthony Zammit in his Żebbuġ home six years ago.
Mr Justice Lawrence Quintano said this had been an “ugly” case that had psychological repercussions on the victim.
The case also caused concern among the public that they could be subjected to a similar incident in their own homes.
Society must feel protected
“Society must feel protected,” the judge said as he went on to hand down sentence yesterday afternoon – after jurors found Mr Ellul guilty of all charges by seven votes to two.
When contacted for a reaction Mr Zammit, a surgeon, said he preferred not to comment.
After seven hours of deliberation, jurors found Mr Ellul, 39, of Marsascala, guilty of beating Mr Zammit and holding him against his will when he hog-tied him in the bedroom of his Żebbuġ home in the early hours of the morning on August 12, 2008.
Mr Ellul, known as Il-Lula, was found guilty of seriously injuring Mr Zammit – who suffered facial fractures – as well as being convicted of stealing thousands of euros worth of jewellery and cash during the robbery which he carried out with another two men who remain at large.
Mr Ellul was also found guilty of the illegal possession of a firearm, causing damage at Mr Zammit’s house, stealing a car 10 days earlier and relapsing.
The guilty verdict indicated jurors did not believe Mr Ellul, who insisted that, while he was “no angel”, he was not involved.
Investigators said they had arrested Mr Ellul, eight months after the case, when two friends of his informed police he had told them of his involvement.
In animated testimony Mr Zammit had told jurors that he got home at around 2am on the day. As he drifted off to sleep three men suddenly surrounded him demanding money.
He was subjected to a two-hour ordeal during which he was struck with a sawn-off shotgun and dealt repeated blows before being tied up, naked.
The men threatened to cut off his fingers. They took several valuable watches and asked for €46,000 in cash.
During submissions on punishment Mr Ellul’s lawyer, Josette Sultana, said he was not expecting a guilty verdict.
She said that, since 2008, her client had rebuilt his life and called upon the judge to be lenient. Prosecuting lawyers Lara Lanfranco and Kevin Valletta, from the Attorney General’s office, said this was a bad case that could have had far worse consequences.
Mr Justice Quintano ruled that, while he appreciated that Mr Ellul may have changed his ways, such crimes were serious. He also noted Mr Ellul had other convictions for theft, some of which took place after 2008.