Following a five-day trial by jury, a man was yesterday declared not guilty of the attempted murder of a Mosta farmer, Cikku Fenech, but guilty of being in possession of a firearm without a licence on the day of the incident.

Jurors deliberated for almost four hours, following which John Pace, 42, from Birkirkara, listened to his verdict being read out. He was surrounded by family members, although his wife, who seemed overcome by emotion, chose to wait outside.

Pace was found not guilty, by six votes to three, of the attempted murder of Mr Fenech in a shoot-out that took place between the two men in one of the landowner’s fields in Mosta on 18 May 2003.

By way of a unanimous vote, however, jurors found Pace guilty of being in possession of a firearm without a license.

The court heard how the incident took place after the two men argued over a field, belonging to Mr Fenech, and rented out to a lawyer, Dr Patrick Spiteri.

The lawyer had given permission to Pace to tend to the field in exchange for services at Dr Spiteri’s office, but the landowner had wanted Pace to leave his land after the lawyer stopped paying rent in September 2002.

When the shoot-out took place, Pace had said he had gone to speak to Mr Fenech and took a firearm with him out of a sense of fear.

After listening to the verdict being read out at 8.45pm last night, Chief Justice Vincent Degaetano, who presided over the case, adjourned the sitting to Monday when he will listen to submissions on the punishment and then hand down his judgement.

Assistant Attorney General Anthony Barbara and Dr Aaron Bugeja prosecuted.

Dr Joseph Giglio and Dr Roberto Montalto appeared for the accused while Dr Franco Debono appeared parte civile.