After six hours of deliberation, a panel of jurors have not yet decided the fate of a man accused of drug trafficking, more than 11 years ago.

The jurors retired to deliberate at 5pm and had not yet reached their verdict by the time of going to print.

Stanley Chircop, from Zebbug and residing in Fgura, is standing trial on drug related charges.

Before Mr Justice Giannino Caruana Demajo, Mr Chircop, 38, is pleading not guilty to conspiring to trade in drugs, trafficking in, and being in possession of, cocaine and heroin between February 1997 and June 1998, and November and December 1997 respectively.

Yesterday, before retiring to deliberate, the jurors heard Mr Justice Caruana Demajo summing up the case and explaining in more detail the points of law which they had to keep in mind while discussing their verdict.

During the trial by jury, which began on Monday, the prosecution insisted that Mr Chircop was a drug trafficker and should be found guilty as charged. It said that the prosecution's witnesses were several drug users, who testified that they had purchased drugs from the accused.

On the other hand, the defence is shedding doubt on the trustworthiness of these witnesses, many of whom were living double lives. One in particular, the defence added, was living with a prostitute and making a living off the earnings of prostitution.

The defence also gave an account of how Mr Chircop had managed to kick the habit and was now a reformed man, living a normal life and with a steady business.

Dr Aaron Bugeja and Dr Lara Lanfranco prosecuted, while Dr Joe Brincat appeared for the accused.