A man who had been sentenced to eight years imprisonment for selling drugs has had his sentence halved on appeal.

Michael Portelli, 29 of Sta Lucija, had been caught red-handed with several sachets of heroin mixed with diazepam, which increases the risk of an overdose.

In the appeal judgement the court said that contrary to the original conviction, the accused had not been selling drugs outside a school but was arrested outside a school while in possession of drugs.

He had also been incorrectly convicted of trafficking diazepam when there was no proof of this.

The court, however upheld a conviction of trafficking heroin.

A fine of €4,000 was also halved to €2,300.

Arthur Azzopardi was defence lawyer.