Although the death penalty had been abolished in 1971...

Although the death penalty had been abolished in 1971 for ordinary crimes in the Criminal Code, it had been retained under the Armed Forces Act of 1970 for certain offences committed in time of war, such as aiding the enemy, desertion and taking part in a mutiny, by those subject to military law. Eighteen executions have been carried out in Malta since 1876, the last in July 1943.