Lorin Scicluna jailed for eight years over racist attack after acquittal in Lassana Cisse murder trial

Scicluna sentenced to eight years in prison for racially motivated attack

On Thursday, 5 November 2026, Judge Natasha Galea Sciberras sentenced Lorin Scicluna to eight years in prison for grievously injuring May Malimi in a racially motivated hit-and-run attack on 1 February 2019 and driving a vehicle without registration plates.

Scicluna was also ordered to pay €6,676.32 in court expert expenses.

In delivering the sentence, the judge strongly condemned the racially motivated violence and considered Scicluna's former position as a soldier in the Armed Forces of Malta.

The court also revealed an error in the prosecution's bill of indictment that had reduced the maximum prison sentence available. The judge explained that, under Maltese law, the offence of grievous bodily harm, aggravated by racial hatred, could carry a prison sentence of up to 12 years.

However, the Office of the Attorney General had incorrectly specified a maximum of nine years in the indictment. The court was therefore legally bound by that lower limit.

The prosecution had requested the maximum available sentence, citing the seriousness of Malimi's injuries. It also based the decision due to the the racial motivation of the attack, and the fact that Malimi was left on the road without assistance.

The defence argued for a more lenient punishment, maintaining that the sentence should not be influenced by public criticism following Scicluna's acquittal of murder and attempted murder.

Following sentencing, Scicluna's lawyers indicated that they would discuss the possibility of an appeal with their client.

Although Scicluna has now been sentenced for the attack on Malimi, he remains acquitted of Lassana Cisse's murder and the attempted murders of three African men. Separate proceedings against former soldier Francesco Fenech in connection with Cisse's killing remain pending.