A 43-year-old man was yesterday jailed for two years, suspended for four after he was found guilty of grievously injuring his sister-in-law.

Desmond Falzon, from Msida, was found guilty of seriously injuring his sister-in-law at her house in Birkirkara on 9 February 2003.

However, the court, presided over by magistrate Miriam Hayman, found Falzon not guilty of using vulgar language in public and breaching the public peace.

In handing down her judgement, magistrate Hayman noted that Falzon was guilty of causing an injury classified as grievous bodily harm without causing permanent disfigurement.

This was established through the testimony of the doctor who first visited the woman, a court expert and an ophthalmologist hired by the woman.

The doctor certified the woman with a grievous injury in her left eye and needed stitches. He said that the scar on her eyelid will be similar to a wrinkle and will not be noticeable.

The court expert testified that after visiting the victim two years after the incident, she had no visible lesions, including her left cornea.

Magistrate Hayman sentenced him to a two-year jail term suspended for four years and ordered him not to approach the victim for a year against a Lm100 fine.

Police Inspector Kevin Farrugia prosecuted.