Court imposes June deadline in Paqpaqli crash case

A magistrate has fixed the dates for seven sittings in the criminal case over the 2015 Paqpali incident.

28 people were injured, six of them critically, during the October 2015 car exhibition when a Porsche 918, driven by Paul Bailey, lost control before crashing into inadequate plastic barriers and ploughed into the crowd.

Today, lawyers for both sides continued to argue over what they allege are shortcomings in the magisterial inquiry into the incident.

The case has been beset by delays and only two sittings have taken place so far. With 13 persons accused and a large number of lawyers appearing both for the accused and victims, the court had encountered enormous difficulty in finding sitting dates which every party could attend.

Magistrate Aaron Bugeja fixed seven sittings, running from April to June, with the stated aim of concluding the compilation of evidence by June.

The court is expected to be deciding on the admissibility of some of the evidence presented, in the coming days.

Besides Bailey and event organiser Tonio Darmanin, the other defendants are Angelo Mario Mannara, 51, from Birzebbugia, Christopher Sultana,41, of Lija, David Bugeja, 38, from San Gwann, Brian Gatt and Melvin Haber, both 44, from Naxxar, Jonathan Tonna, 40, of Naxxar, Kevin Perry,44, from Qormi, Ian Keith Cilia Pisani, 38, of Mgarr, Jonathan Bruno, 41, from Mosta, Tonio Cini, 47, from Naxxar and Agostino De Giorgio, 52, from Sliema. 

Police Inspectors Josric Mifsud, Silvio Magro and Hubert Cini are prosecuting. Magistrate Aaron Bugeja is presiding.