Man cleared of attempted murder likely to be deported

It took a jury panel yesterday just an hour and a half to find a Libyan not guilty of trying to kill a Tunisian in an argument six years ago.

The jurors heard on Monday how Hesham Mohammed Shabosh, 34, had hit Omar Mohammed Baccouche in the arm with a trowel used for plastering.

The argument between the two had also involved Mr Shabosh's uncle, Khalid Josef Lamloun, who informed the police about the attack and also told them that the fight was sparked off by the victims' children bullying his nephews' children.

The incident had occurred near the mosque in Paola at 8.30 p.m. on October 18, 2004.

Testifying on Monday, Mr Shabosh admitted that he had hit the victim in an attempt to stop him from hitting his uncle with a stick.

At the time, the accused had been in Malta for two years with an expired visa because he had a relationship with a Maltese girl. The victim suffered a permanent disability and is unable to use his arm. He also lost sensation in the fingers.

Mr Shabosh was visibly nervous and on hearing the foreman say that they had found him not guilty by seven votes to two, he burst into tears. He then sat down, overcome with emotion until Mr Justice Joseph Galea Debono declared him a free man.

Heartily thanking his lawyers, Chris Cardona and Mark Vassallo, Mr Shabosh walked out of the court room accompanied by his Maltese girlfriend and his uncle.

Since he has overstayed, he is expected to be deported to Libya in the coming days.