A man facing life in prison on charges of trafficking heroin more than a decade ago  has been put on probation instead. 

Mr McKay and his lawyers celebrate the verdict outside the law courts.Mr McKay and his lawyers celebrate the verdict outside the law courts.

Herman McKay, a 34-year-old Marsa man, was acquitted of trafficking half a kilogramme of heroin by a jury on Monday, with the court finding him guilty of simple possession of the drug instead. 

Mr McKay had been arrested by the police in Marsa in August 2007 and allegedly tried to throw away the drug from his car.

READ: Policeman describes ending up 'like a fish in flour' 

Prosecutors were seeking a life sentence against the defendant, but a jury returned a 6-3 not guilty verdict in Mr McKay's favour following the two-week long case. 

Judge Antonio Mizzi ordered Mr Mackay to serve a three-year probation sentence and pay a €10,000 fine for drug possession.  

Mr McKay was represented in court by lawyers Franco Debono and Marion Camilleri.

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