Waylon Johnston
Unemployed motorist charged with manslaughter, drink driving
A 21-year-old Ħamrun motorist who allegedly was driving under the influence of alcohol was yesterday charged with the manslaughter of keen cyclist Cliff Micallef on Thursday morning.
Anthony Taliana, who is unemployed, pleaded not guilty to involuntary homicide, driving in a dangerous manner and when drunk, failing to stop at an accident, driving without insurance and relapsing after being convicted for dangerous driving for which he had been fined.
Mr Taliana's defence lawyer, Michael Sciriha said his client wanted to express his deepest sympathy to the victim's family.
Mr Micallef, who had planned to join the Lifecycle challenge next week, was cycling at 5.15 a.m. along the coast road in Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq when he was killed in a hit-and-run. The police found part of a car and a number plate close to where Mr Micallef died. Mr Taliana's car, a blue Opel Astra, is known to have suffered extensive damage in the front part. It has been impounded by the police.
Magistrate Anthony Vella denied a request for bail and remanded Mr Taliana in custody.
Police Inspector Kevin Farrugia prosecuted. Lawyer Ian Farrugia also appeared for Mr Taliana.
Lawyer Alexander Schembri appeared parte civile.
15 Comments
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marianna grech
Aug 7th 2009, 19:29
i agree with j.Genovese. so what if he was unemployed stop making a big deal out of it! if he has the money and affords not to work why not?? and stop blaming his parents as if its their fault. Toninu is 21 years old, he has a mind to think for himself! il kondolenzi lil familja ta Cliff.
Joseph Said
Aug 6th 2009, 12:52
J.Genovese where exactly do you walk around? or drive yourself? I was just think ing maybe you'd like it if I ran you over after a night out in PV with my friends playing the Macho man!!! I know the accused and I have no respect for or like for him! I've seen him around in PV and his attitude is dismal. So I never expected anything grand from him.
His family might be a "Good" family but I wonder if his father thought of anyone else's children his OWN son could harm by letting him drive around without a license and after he had been previously accused of similar crimes.
j.Genovese
Aug 5th 2009, 13:09
when i say the system, u mean that if police saw Toninu as a reckless driver they should have stopped him from driving again, maybe send to Sedqa to do a pragramme to intake less alcohol, order some social work to make him grow in a better man. The faculties are there, the system is wrong.
Than when something like this happens johorgu l Ghorrief jippuntaw subghajhom, cause this and that imma mbad it's too late. The victim cannot come back imma improve and educate people you always can
OK Joss?
J.Genovese
Aug 5th 2009, 13:02
A hit and run is most often caused bu a moment of panic not by being drunk, but I beleive all of you someday drunk and drove, so what is different between you and Toninu is the accident
Bertie O'Cassey
Aug 5th 2009, 11:55
Right, J.Genovese, unemployed drunk drivers running around in their fathers car that is uninsured and not stopping after causing an accident without having at least the decency to go to the nearest Police station to report/turn your self in is the systems fault.
Even if a cyclist is driving in the middle of the road you have no right to run him over.
Toninu, as you so put it allegedly has a large chunk of the blame, the rest I blame his parents for letting him drive an uninsured vehicle.
A good family in this case is your perception!!!!!!!
Joss Galea
Aug 5th 2009, 11:46
@J Genovese....
Condemn the system????!!! So you condemn the system for his alleged reckless driving and putting in danger his life and the life of others???!!!! What system do you want to condemn!! Maybe he comes from a good family but it's he who allegedly did the wrong thing. I experienced a loss in the family because of an inconsiderate driver. I don't think you will write the same as you did if someone killed a person dear to you just because he wants to have fun speeding! I don't think the e-mail about Anthony is fair though!
J.Genovese
Aug 5th 2009, 11:02
Min mandux htija iwaddab l-ewwel gebla. Toninu comes from a really good family, may the victim rest in peace,kondoljanzi lil familja tal vittma, imma stop attacking this guy as he has a family too. Even a really cruel email is going round about Toninu, I hope Tony find the responsable and fines him. Again I am terribly sorry for the victim. I condemn the system not Toninu as this will surely happen again by someone else
Bertie O'Cassey
Aug 5th 2009, 10:55
My Condolences to Cliff's family, may you always find the support you need throughout your life's.
We have heard comments from cliff's family, it would be very interesting to hear the comments of Mr Taliana's family and their views to see if they feel that their son has done any wrongdoing.
K. Vella
Aug 2nd 2009, 15:10
The YouTube videos were removed. I hope it's only as a result of the Police initiating formal procedures with YouTube, rather than a damage-control exercise by friends. You can run but you can't hide, as you have seen.
A Borg
Aug 2nd 2009, 11:58
Eric camilleri thanks for those links. I think the someone should also view his other vids as well... drifting (or rather a poor attempt) in a slippery road in st pauls bay + overspeeding etc.
Poor Cliff ...
P Pace Balzan
Aug 2nd 2009, 11:33
My condolences to Cliff Micallef's family.
As a cyclist , from the same area and cycling in the same vicinity, I can only praise the person, whom I met on a number of occasions exchanging brief greetings ,however I would appreaciate it if the Times newspaper actually shows a photo of the area where the accident took place.
If a photo of the area is shown anyone will certainly notice the following:
1:A fig tree blocking the cyclists lane - thereby forcing any cyclist out of the cyclists lane.
2-Poor markings on the ground which at times fail to show drivers that a cycle lane actually exists.
3-Debris through-out the cyclists lane.
Eric Camilleri
Aug 2nd 2009, 10:03
Franco Farrugia, I am usually not much in line with your point of views but I am with you on this one. To his circle of friends "Zball" what zball ? The manslaughter of an innocent family man ? Do you have the courage to say that to the victim's family who will suffer this pain and loss for their entire life. I hope the Times does not block or edit my comment because I am disgusted with what I saw on YouTube apart from Hi5 ! The protagonist has various contributions where he clearly shows his qualities with car drifting in some of Malta's streets, particularly two clips that show him with his very own killer car dangerously drifting along streets in St Paul's Bay. Visit Youtube and search "Opel Drifting Malta". From these two clips then simply follow on to the author's "toninugt" profile.
Franco Farrugia
Aug 1st 2009, 18:33
His hi5 profile is being filled with comments by his 'friends', encouraging him and giving him hope, claiming that it was just a simple 'zball'. Makes interesting, if not disgusting reading!
MSciberras
Aug 1st 2009, 17:02
Well done Times of Malta.
Julian Mompalao de Piro
Aug 1st 2009, 12:06
Well done The Times for procuring and publishing this photo