Tourist says driver who hit her was not speeding

Father of three, Frankie Cutajar, 39 of Cospicua was granted bail after pleading not guilty to grievously injuring an Italian tourist, due to negligent and dangerous driving on Friday afternoon, in Valletta.

The man was arraigned under arrest as the victim is leaving Malta on Wednesday.

Italian national Camilla Righi, took the witness stand explaining she arrived in Malta last Thursday on holiday. At around 2pm, on Good Friday she was walking on the pavement near Fort St Elmo in Valletta when she felt her jacket being ripped.

“I believe the vehicle’s mirror caught on the jacket’s pocket. The car was not going fast as I simply fell and hit my head. the driver stopped immediately and came to help me.”

The tourist could not recall if she had walked off the pavement when the car hit her.

“I had no intention of crossing the street, but I could have got off the sidewalk”, she said, explaining that at the moment of impact she had a black-out and couldn't recall specific details. The witness reiterated the fact that the accused was not driving at more than 40kmh, and there was a lot of traffic in the street.

Righi was taken to hospital by ambulance and certified to have suffered grievous injuries. She had seven stitched over her eyebrow, but x-rays confirmed that her shoulder, although possibly sprained was not severely injured.

Her version was corroborated by husband Moreno Cagiati, who told the court that he was walking behind his wife when he saw her being dragged by the jacket. The driver stopped the vehicle a metre away from the point of impact, and got out to help the victim.

Defence lawyer Albert Zerafa requested bail, arguing this was a simple traffic accident and the victim herself said Cutajar was not speeding.

Magistrate MarseAnne Farrugia granted Cutajar bail, against a personal guarantee of €3,000.

Inspector Pierre Micallef-Grimaud prosecuted, while lawyer Albert Zerafa appeared for the accused.