Court finds speed boat owner partly responsible for swimmer's death

A judgement which had found a man 50 per cent responsible for the death of a swimmer in Sliema back in 1992 was this morning confirmed by the Court of Appeal.

The criminal court of appeal confirmed the judgement, handed down by the first hall of the civil court in February 2008, which found Stephen Satariano 50 per cent responsible for the death of swimmer Pasquale Muscariello at Ferro Bay in Sliema.

Mr Muscariello was also responsible for his death because he had been diving without giving any indication.

Mr Satariano was ordered to pay €149,964 in damages.

In their judgement, Mr Justice Vincent de Gaetano, Mr Justice Joseph Filletti and Mr Justice Geoffrey Valencia, agreed with the first court the Mr Satariano had been closer to the bay than permitted by law, creating a danger for swimmers.

He was negligent in the use of his speedboat and as a consequence he hit Mr Muscariello and was partly responsible for his death.