"Justice has been done", Patrick Grixti said as he walked out of the court house yesterday, jubilant after he was cleared of trying to kill a man in a road rage incident.

He left the court with his lawyers Roberto Montalto and Michael Sciriha saying: "Justice has been done! I want to thank everyone for their hard work, especially the two men standing next to me".

Mr Grixti, 33, faced 30 years in jail if found guilty of the attempted murder of Francis Farrugia after he allegedly mowed him down with his maroon Dacia following an explosive argument in September 2005.

Sudden outbursts of tears mixed with sighs of relief from Mr Grixti's wife and mother could be heard as the jurors read out the not guilty verdict, following five-and-a-half hours of deliberation.

Anxious relatives waiting outside also burst out in applause, which could be heard echoing through the huge court hall 22.

Mr Grixti was not found guilty by eight votes to one of the attempted murder of Mr Farrugia, not guilty by eight votes to one of slightly injuring the victim's daughters and unanimously not guilty of damaging property in the street.

The incident occurred when a slow-moving garbage truck blocked the way in Laqxija Street, Birkirkara on September 22, 2005 at about 5 p.m.

Conflicting testimony was heard throughout the trial with Mr Grixti saying it was the victim that reversed and hit his car while the victim testified that it was Mr Grixti that hit his car. Whatever the case, after the collision, which left the victim's red Pontiac with minimal damage, a fight ensued.

The victim punched Mr Grixti through the car window. He lost control of his car and ran over Mr Farrugia, leaving him under the car with a fractured pelvis.

The victim's two daughters said they were also attacked by Mr Grixti claiming that he even told them not to help their father and to let him die under the car. However, he denied this.

Defence lawyer Michael Sciriha read out the victim's criminal record, pointing out that he had 11 convictions for fights and one in particular for fighting with a German couple over a car accident.

As soon as Mr Justice Joseph Galea Debono left the court room after declaring him a free man, Mr Grixti collapsed into a chair in the dock and let out a big sigh of relief.

He called out to prosecuting lawyer Anthony Barbara as he was walking out of the dock and shook his hand, thanking him.