A man who was savagely beaten and then left for dead by thieves has died, his family said.

Joseph Carabott, 67, a jeweller in Zurrieq, was left brain-damaged and never recovered from the August 2023 assault.

The incident took place in Dun Guzepp Zammit Street at 8pm. Upon arriving on site, the police found the shop's door locked but they could see a man inside. The man was tied up and wounded.

It resulted that two persons had entered the shop, bound the man, and made off with several jewellery items.

His nephew Keith Carabott announced his death in a post on social media on Saturday morning.

"Uncle, you are now resting after the year and six months of misery they caused you," he wrote. "They left you in a bed with no strength and no words, we will never forget."

Carabott was found inside his jewellery store in a pool of blood, with his hands tied. The gang of robbers had beaten the shop's elderly owner unconscious after he cried out for help, a court heard.

Three people were later charged with robbing the jeweller and assaulting him. One of the three, Donna Borg Sciberras, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 28 years.

She has since testified against the other two, two Moroccans, Zaouhair Hadoumi u Mohamed Anas Boualam .

Both the accused are pleading not guilty and the case against them continues.