A 21-year-old man from Xaghra was this morning found guilty of the involuntary homicide of a friend, who was his pillion rider in December 2006.

Julian Sultana, 21, was jailed for six months suspended for a year and had his driving licence suspended for a year after he was also found guilty of riding his motorbike dangerously, without a licence and without insurance.

Mr Sultana was riding his bike, which he had bought only a month before, in Triq Ghajn Xejba, limits of Xaghra. Joseph Xerri, 17, also of Xaghra, was pillion rider.

As Mr Sultana was still a minor, the bike was still registered on its previous owner.

In the accident the bike crashed with a Pagero driven by another Joseph Xerri, also of Xaghra, which was being driven towards the village. Mr Sultana and Mr Xerri were riding in the opposite direction.

When they came to a bend in the road, Mr Sultana, who was riding at an excessive speed, lost control of the bike and the two riders ended on the other side of the road, hitting the Pagero and getting thrown off the bike which was completely destroyed.

Both Mr Sultana and Mr Xerri the pillion rider were grievously injured and Mr Xerri died in hospital some days later. The Pagero driver was slightly injured.

In handing judgement, Magistrate Edwina Grima took into consideration the age of the accused and noted that, as he had still been a minor at the time of the accident, his punished had to be reduced by a grade or two according to law. He also had a clean police record and had paid damages to the family of the deceased.

However, she could not ignore the fact that a man had lost his life as a result of the accident.