Jason Galea, one of the accused in the murder of Mario Camilleri l-Imniehru, has been jailed six and a half years over his involvement in a separate case - a botched up armed robbery at a Valletta jewellery shop in 2010.
Mr Galea was charged with attempted aggravated theft and of holding Frank Zampa against his will, threatening to kill him, seriously injuring him, being in possession of an unlicensed firearm, causing damage to Zampa's property and relapsing.
Mr Zampa, then 79, had his cheek grazed by a bullet as he resisted.
Two other men, Michael Zahra and Marcus John Calleja, had been jailed for three and a half years over the same case.
The court, presided over by Magistrate Donatella Frendo Dimech, heard how Jason Galea’s role on the day was to restrain Mr Zampa’s son.
The court heard how Zahra had gone off plan and fired shots during the robbery. As a result, the other men panicked and ran. Mr Zampa then tried to wrestle the gun from Zahra’s hand but the weapon discharged and the elderly shopkeeper was grazed by the bullet.
The magistrate found that there was no evidence showing that the accused had been aware that one of his fellow robbers had been packing a pistol. She cleared him of the weapon charges but found him guilty of attempted robbery, holding a person against his will, damaging property and relapsing.
Mr Galea, along with another man, is accused of the murder of Mario Camilleri l-Imniehru, who was his brother-in-law, and his son Mario Camilleri Jnr.