Updated | Judge sentences Ellul to 12 years’ imprisonment for Zammit robbery

Kenneth Ellul was found guilty by a jury of nine men and women, of robbery and assault on former Labour MP Anthony Zammit in his house in 2008.

Ellul was found guilty by seven votes to two. Mr Justice Lawrence Quintano sentenced Ellul to 12 years' imprisonment.

Ellul was charged with holding Zammit against his will, aggravated theft and theft of a car, carrying an unlicensed weapon, assaulting the MP and causing him grievous injuries.

Sitting silently in the dock, with four relatives and friends sitting behind him, Ellul heard the verdict being pronounced.

After seven hours of deliberation, at 3:40pm the foreman of the jury read out the verdict to the court. With a vote of seven to two, the Marsaskala man was found guilty of seven charges, including holding Zammit against his will, aggravated theft and theft of a car, carrying an unlicensed weapon, assaulting the MP and causing him grievous injuries. He was also convicted of relapsing.

The trial by jury started on Monday. Over the following three days, the jury heard witnesses summoned by the prosecution. Christopher Shepherd, the prosecution's main witness recounted how another person had told him that Ellul was involved in the theft. Another witness, Mark Anthony Ellul, explained that on the way to the Detox Centre, the accused had a heart-to-heart conversation with him during which he admitted his involvement in the robbery. The prosecution's final witness was the victim - Prof. Anthony Zammit. In an emotional testimony the victim recounted the events of 12 August 2008.

After having dinner at a client's house in Bahar ic-Caghaq, Zammit had returned to his house in Zebbug. As he lay on his bed, he was assaulted by three hooded men. The aggressors tied him using the wire of his bedside lamp and ties from hi's wardrobe. Over the two hours that followed, the victim was constantly beaten and suffered grievous injuries. The culprits left the house through the front door, but escaped on foot after their getaway car failed to start.

On Thursday, after her introductory address, defence lawyer Josette Sultana summoned her only witness in this case - the accused himself. Ellul denied any connection with the 2008 robbery from Zammit's residence. However under the prosecution's heavy questioning, the lisp that  Zammit claimed his aggressor had, became evident in Ellul's speech.

After the jury pronounced the verdict, Sultana pleaded with the court that in delivering judgement, the judge takes into consideration that the accused had reformed his life and managed to kick his drug habit.

Prosecuting lawyer Lara Lanfranco argued that this was a serious case which could have had a worse ending. "Going through Ellul's police record, we see a criminal career which lasted from 1994 to 2012," demanding that Ellul get a prison sentence of over 10 years.