A man who admitted to firing a shotgun at his brother during a fight over a rubble wall dividing their fields nine years ago has been given a two-year jail term suspended for four years and fined €1,165.

Joseph Caruana, 54, admitted to injuring his elder brother, Anthony, and the possession of a firearm at the time of the shooting in the limits of Zurrieq on April 15, 2006.

He had originally been charged with attempted murder but, following plea bargaining with the Attorney General, he admitted to the lesser charge of injuring his brother.

His brother had also been charged with his (Joseph’s) attempted murder and has not yet been sentenced.

During the compilation of evidence in 2006 Police Inspector Joseph Agius, prosecuting, said Anthony Cachia went to the police station to report a quarrel and that he had been hit by shotgun pellets.

Asked if he had fired at his brother, he replied in the affirmative but said he was not sure if he had hit him. Sometime later, the police were informed that Joseph Cachia had been admitted to hospital suffering from gunshot wounds to his head, neck and chest. None of the injuries were fatal.

Both accused denied being the first to shoot.