LAWRENCE – A Peabody man found guilty earlier this week of violating a restraining order was sentenced to serve 16 months in jail and placed on two years of probation.Rafael Zammit, 30, of 8 Aborn St., Peabody, went on trial on charges of home invasion, armed assault with intent to murder, armed assault in a dwelling, assault and battery, threats to commit the crime to kill and violation of a restraining order stemming from a home invasion last winter in Lynn.The 12-person jury deliberated for 25 minutes on Tuesday afternoon, finding Zammit guilty of violation of a restraining order and acquitted him on the more serious five remaining charges.On Friday morning Zammit was given a split sentence of two and a half years in jail, with all but 16 months suspended by Judge Richard E. Welch, III.Zammit will be on probation for another two years when he gets out of jail at which time he will undergo anger punishment counseling and was ordered to stay away from the victim. Zammit has already served 217 days in jail awaiting trial on the case.The judge imposed the maximum punishment allowed under the statute for the crime.Prosecutors had accused Zammit of barging into his estranged wife’s home at 180 Judge Road, Lynn, shortly after 8 p.m. on Feb. 26.Once inside Zammit was accused of attacking 30-year-old Jarred Jones with a knife, causing a slash to his hand.Zammit fled the scene following the incident and was arrested later that day in Lynn.At the time of the incident, his 26-year-old estranged wife had a restraining order out against him, prohibiting him from having any contact with her and to stay away from her home.Assistant District Attorney Marsha H. Slingerland had asked for 18 months to be served with probation.Slingerland felt the jury wanted to hear from Zammit’s wife, who was present during the attack. Her case relied on her testimony as an eyewitness, but Zammit’s wife invoked her marital privilege at trial and did not testify. They are still married, Slingerland stated.Zammit, who maintained from the onset that he was innocent, did not take the stand in his own defense.Defense lawyer Mark G. Miliotis argued for no more committed time for his client, but the judge felt Zammit should receive additional time in jail.