Driver 'ignored request to stop'
Accused admitted hitting someone - inspector
A girl who was given a lift by Anthony Taliana on the day he allegedly ran over a cyclist on the Coast Road asked him to stop after the impact but he ignored her and drove on, a court heard yesterday.
When the police tracked him down, five hours later, he was asleep in an apartment in Buġibba and still smelled of alcohol, Police Inspector Kevin Farrugia said during the compilation of evidence in the case yesterday.
A breathalyser test was taken and the results showed that his alcohol level was still very close to the legal limit despite the time that had elapsed.
The police arrested him and took him down to the station but the officer said he had to warn him to bring his arrogance down a notch before the interrogation started.
Earlier, the police officer said Mr Taljana's passenger, 17-year-old Natasha Chesney, had said during an interview that she had told him to stop but he kept going.
Mr Taliana, 21, from Ħamrun is pleading not guilty to involuntary homicide, drunk driving, driving without insurance and relapsing. He had already been convicted for dangerous driving a few years ago.
His alleged victim, keen cyclist and charity volunteer Clifford Micallef, who was meant to join the LifeCycle challenge, was out on his bike on the Coast Road in Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq at 5.15 a.m. on July 30 when he was knocked down.
The front bumper of the car and its number plate were left at the scene - which is how the police traced Mr Taliana.
Magistrate Audrey Demicoli yesterday heard the inspector say that the reflecting material and the flashing light of the bicycle could be clearly seen in the dim morning light.
During the interrogation, Mr Taliana admitted that he had drunk a certain quantity of alcohol and that he had hit a person while driving but failed to stop, Inspector Farrugia testified.
Following a request by defence lawyer Michael Sciriha, Magistrate Demicoli placed Mr Taliana under house arrest against a deposit of €1,500 and a personal guarantee of €5,000.
Earlier, Inspector Farrugia argued against bail, saying the magisterial inquiry had not yet been concluded and that more evidence might come to light.
Lawyer Ian Farrugia also appeared for Mr Taliana. Lawyer Alexander Schembri appeared parte civile.