Updated 5.33pm, 5.54pm  - Allan Galea, a 36-year-old hawker from Marsaxlokk was this evening sentenced to six years imprisonment after a jury found him guilty of the wilful homicide of Twanny Borg (il-Bona). Jurors had decided by a 6-3 verdict that the crime was excusable because of excessive self defence.

Mr Galea was liable for a maximum penalty of 12 years imprisonment.

Sentence was handed down by Mr Justice Antonio Mizzi. 

Mr Galea  had been accused of the murder of Il-Bona in Marsaxlokk in 2010. Had he been found guilty of murder he would have been liable for life imprisonment. He hugged his defence team when the sentence was read out.

According to the defence, Mr Galea was acting in self-defence when he stabbed Mr Borg three times. Il-Bona had fired two 'warning shots' before his gun reportedly jammed. 

In pre-sentencing arguments, prosecutor Lara Lanfranco appealed for the maximum sentence, stressing that the deceased was already out of action when the accused delivered the fatal blow - a stab to the heart.

She also highlighted the fact that the victim's character should not be taken into consideration.

"We do not live in a jungle - there are rules to regulate us."

Defence lawyer Joe Giglio pointed out that there was no minimum punishment delineated by law and that this was significant.

The jury's verdict made it clear that the situation was forced onto the accused by another's person action, he said.

"The verdict shows that Borg was endangering Galea's life. If he (Galea) hadn't acted that way, we would have had a different accused here today.

"Borg is no longer alive due to his own actions and the jurors recognised this," he said. 

Lawyers Lara Lanfranco and Kristina Debattista from the Attorney General's Office are prosecuting while lawyers Giannella de Marco, Joe Giglio and Steve Tonna Lowell are defence counsel. Lawyers Franco Debono and Matthew Brincat are appearing parte civile for the family of the deceased.