Lorin Scicluna could have faced up to 12 years behind bars, but an error in the Attorney General’s indictment meant the court could only sentence him to a maximum of nine years.The detail emerged on Thursday morning as Judge Natasha Galea Sciberras sentenced the former AFM soldier to eight years in prison for grievously injuring May Malimi and driving a vehicle without registration plates.According to TVM News, the judge explained that the applicable sentencing range was 18 months to 12 years.However, the Attorney General’s office had incorrectly listed the maximum punishment as nine years in the indictment, meaning the court was bound by that lower limit.Prosecutors had requested the maximum sentence, arguing that the punishment needed to reflect the seriousness of the offences.The judge also stressed that the court had to send a strong message against racial hatred, particularly given that Scicluna was a serving soldier when the offence occurred.Scicluna, 29, was acquitted earlier this week of murdering Lassana Cisse Souleymane, who was shot dead in Ħal Far in April 2019, as well as the attempted murder charges he faced.However, jurors found him guilty of grievously injuring Malimi and driving without registration plates.Scicluna was ultimately sentenced to eight years, one year below the maximum available to the court under the indictment.He was also ordered to pay €6,676.32 in court expert expenses.•