Police vs Portelli — Knife Attack in Birkirkara: Conviction Upheld, One Cost Removed

A man convicted of causing grievous bodily harm with a knife appealed his sentence. The appeal court upheld the conviction but removed a specific expert fee of over €4,600.

Court of Criminal Appeal · Judge Dr. Edwina Grima LL.D. · 27 March 2026

On 22 August 2021 in Birkirkara, Cranston Portelli used a knife to inflict grievous injuries on James Manfre, causing permanent damage to one of his hands. He was convicted and sentenced to 2 years imprisonment suspended for 2 years, a 2-year restraining order protecting the victim, and ordered to pay over €6,700 in expert fees. Portelli appealed, and the Attorney General also appealed seeking a heavier sentence. The Court of Criminal Appeal dismissed the Attorney General's appeal. The sentence was within the legal range and the victim's own conduct had contributed to what happened. Portelli's appeal was partially successful. The court found that one specific expert report (a serology report costing €4,623.24) had not actually been relied upon in the lower court's reasoning. This cost was therefore removed. All other elements of the conviction and sentence were confirmed.

Conviction upheld: 2 years imprisonment suspended for 2 years + 2-year restraining order. Expert fee of €4,623.24 removed. Attorney General's appeal for heavier sentence dismissed.

• A successful appeal does not mean acquittal — it can mean a reduced sentence or removal of specific costs
• The Attorney General can appeal a sentence upward if considered too lenient
• A suspended sentence means no prison time unless you reoffend during the suspension period
• Expert costs can only be imposed on a convicted person if the expert evidence was actually used in the judgment

Criminal Code Ch. 9 Arts. 214, 217, 218 — grievous bodily harm; Firearms Act Ch. 480 — carrying weapons