Traffic victim's heirs win Lm58,000 damages

The family of a man killed in a traffic accident in 1997 has been awarded almost Lm60,000 in damages by Mr Justice Joseph R Micallef in the First Hall of the Civil Court.

This judgment was delivered following a writ filed by the heirs of the late Carmelo Seguna against Carmel Debono and his wife Angela.

The court heard that, on January 14, 1997, at around 4.30 a.m. there was a traffic accident in Mdina Road, Qormi when a van driven by Mr Debono collided with a sulky driven by Mr Seguna. The latter died in hospital that same day.

The horse drawing the sulky was injured in the accident.

Mr Debono told the court that the collision occurred due to a sudden unexpected movement on the part of the horse.

However the court found, after examining the evidence, that Mr Debono's version of events was not credible and that Mr Seguna had remained in control of his horse.

The court added that Mr Seguna was partly to blame for the accident, for his sulky was not equipped with lights or a reflector.

However Mr Debono was primarily to blame for the accident.

The court awarded Seguna's heirs Lm58,796 in damages.