Updated | Man handed eight year sentence for ex-girlfriend's near-fatal stabbing after reaching plea bargain

A man who had been indicted for the attempted murder of his ex-girlfriend, has been jailed for 8 and a half years under a plea bargain after the prosecution agreed to qualify the attempted murder charge, in return for an admission to the charge of grievous bodily harm.

Miloud Elforjani's guilty plea was conditional on the prosecution conceding that he had desisted voluntarily from completing the crime.  

The 40-year-old Libyan had stabbed his Maltese girlfriend multiple times in the belly in November 2020 after she told him that she was pregnant with another man’s child and wanted to end their relationship. Medical staff at Mater Dei Hospital succeeded in saving the woman’s life. He was also facing charges relating to carrying a knife in public, sending the woman threats and stalking her, as well as breaching bail conditions dating back to 2019.

Elforjani’s criminal trial was due to begin this morning in front of Madam Justice Consuelo Scerri Herrera. But before the trial could officially begin, defence lawyer Roberto Montalto informed the court that the defendant wished to change his plea and admit guilt. It is understood that the prosecution and defence had reached a plea bargaining agreement, whereby the attempted murder charge was qualified by voluntary desistance on the part of the defendant.

After retiring to chambers to consider what punishment to inflict, the Madam Justice Consuelo Scerri Herrera sentenced Elforjani to imprisonment for eight and a half years. He was also ordered to pay €3139 in costs and fined €116 for carrying a knife without a licence.

Lawyer Abigail Caruana from the Office of the Attorney General prosecuted. Police Inspectors Audrey Micallef and Ryan Vella investigated the case.