Malta's worst traffic accident: Appeals rejected

The Appeals Court this morning confirmed a three year jail term imposed on a man who was convicted of having caused the worst traffic accident in Malta's history.

Antoine Cassar, 25 of Zurrieq, had been convicted of having involuntarily caused the death of David Sacco, 13, Fabio Magro, 16, and 17-year-olds Marco Abdilla, Oswaldo Emanuel Vella and Christian Camilleri when the van he was driving slammed into a wall in Zebbug in the early hours on October 1, 2005.

Mr Cassar was also found guilty of involuntarily seriously injuring Anthony Aquilina and slightly injuring Matthew Magro who were also in the van. He was also banned from driving for five years.

The Appeals Court rejected appeals by both the Attorney General and the defence.

The former had called for an increase in the penalty and for a sentence to be given for each of the boys who had died in the increase.

The defence argued for a reduced penalty. Mr Justice David Scicluna, however, upheld the findings and decision of the first court.

On October 1, 2005, Mr Cassar accepted to give a lift to six friends from Qrendi after they had all attended a barbecue at Olive Gardens in Rabat.

The six teenagers got into the back of Mr Cassar's commercial van that was not licensed to carry passengers in the back. Mr Cassar's friend, Mr Aquilina, sat in the front passengers' seat.

On the way Mr Cassar, driving at high speed, overtook a Subaru car from the inner lane and on a bend in the road. The van started swerving, he lost control and crashed into a wall. The five young men died on impact.

According to law, Mr Cassar has faced a maximum jail term of four years and three months.