A man who admitted to almost-fatally stabbing a fellow Libyan national at the Ħal Far Open Centre three years ago has been condemned to 13.5 years in jail.

Ahmed Omar Aljuweeni, 34, stood accused of attempted murder after the violent episode which broke out over money which the victim allegedly owed the aggressor.

The accused, also charged with possessing a weapon and inflicting grievous injuries upon his victim, claimed that the other man had pulled out a knife and attempted to attack him after being approached over the issue of the pending debt.

The defence counsel had argued that the accused had wrestled the knife out of the other man’s grasp before the stabbing occurred.

After a plea bargaining exercise between the prosecution and the defence, the accused entered a guilty plea and was condemned to a jail term of 13.5 years before the Criminal Court, presided over by Madam Justice Consuelo Scerri Herrera.

He was further ordered to pay €4,927.05 by way of court expenses.

The accused was remanded in custody.

Lawyer Marc Sant was defence counsel.