Police testify in New Year's Day road fatality case

The man behind the wheel of the car involved in the fatal road accident on New Year’s Day had told police that the accident occurred when the rear tyres suddenly lost their grip, causing the vehicle to crash into a wall.

Police Sergeant Jason Xerri told Magistrate Audrey Demicoli that 22 year-old Terence Tanti had insisted with the police that he was driving at 50km/h when the accident happened.

Xerri was testifying in the first sitting of the compilation of evidence against Tanti, accused of the involuntary homicide of Matthew Meilak and driving while under the influence of alcohol.

He also stands accused of causing serious injury to another passenger, dangerous driving and causing damage to an electricity pole.

The accident, in which 22-year-old law student Matthew Meilak lost his life, happened at around 3:45am on the 1 January in Rabat Road in Nadur, Gozo, as Meilak and four of his friends were on their way back from a private party held at a Nadur farmhouse.

Meilak suffered severe head injuries after being ejected from the car on impact. Sources claim that he was found approximately 12 metres from the crash.

Xerri told the court that Alex Scerri, who was sitting in the front passenger seat, had told the police that the car suddenly swerved while going around a bend, crashing into a wall and electricity pole. 

The other two passengers, Edward Cole and Miguel Camilleri, who suffered serious injuries in the accident, could not explain what had happened. The sergeant said that when police arrived on the scene, Scerri was not in the vicinity but was found some distance away, in a visible state of shock.

He confirmed that it was not raining at the time of the accident, but he could not confirm whether the road was wet with dew.

Inspector Bernard Spiteri testified that the duty magistrate had ordered blood samples be taken due to the suspicion that the accused was driving under the influence of alcohol. The results of the tests are expected to be exhibited at a later stage by court experts.

The case will continue in February.

Inspectors Bernard Spiteri and Frank Tabone prosecuted. Lawyer Joe Giglio appeared for Tanti.