Boater loses appeal over swimmer's death 17 years ago

A man who accidentally rammed into a swimmer with his boat and killed him almost 18 years ago in Sliema has lost his appeal against the €150,000 in compensation that he had been ordered to pay the victim's family.

Steven Satariano was driving his speedboat in Ferro Bay on July 27, 1992, when he ran over spear fisherman Pasquale Muscariello.

The first court held both equally responsible for the accident since Mr Muscariello had not put up any safety marker to alert people that he was swimming below the surface. Mr Satariano was found not to have followed maritime regulations and of having got too close to the beach.

The boater filed an appeal claiming that the first court had made an incorrect appraisal of the evidence and that the boat had never been identified.

According to the evidence, the victim was hit by a white speedboat with a particular red line running down the side.

On realising that he was too close to the beach, Mr Satariano manoeuvred at speed to leave the zone.

The victim died from massive blood loss.

Mr Satariano had claimed in court that he was not the person who had hit the victim. However, one witness described the boat while another, Pierre Cassar, actually followed it with his jet ski and identified Mr Satariano.

A police helicopter was also called in and they followed the boat until it was stopped in Balluta Bay, St Julians.

Chief Justice Vincent De Gaetano, Mr Justice Joseph Filletti and Mr Justice Geoffrey Valenzia threw out the appeal, confirming the first court's appraisal of the evidence and its judgment.