The mother of an 11-year-old boy who was seriously injured in a hit-and-run accident on Wednesday morning described in court how she lay down on the road to comfort her son.

Slovakian Andrea Pindufora was testifying after 21-year-old Shaunvic Felice of Qormi pleaded not guilty to seriously injuring her son while driving a Jaguar X-Type with no licence and insurance cover.

He was also charged with failing to stop following an accident, drink driving, driving dangerously and at speed, refusing to give his particulars to the police and relapsing.

The witness said she was crossing Tower Road in Sliema together with her son Martin Quam when he was suddenly hit by a car catapulting him 25 metres down the road. She ran towards him and found him face up with his eyes wide open unable to say a word because he was in a spasm.

Ms Pindufora said she lied down next to him and spoke to him gently, comforting him when, at one point, he started crying.

Still unable to say anything, he was taken by ambulance to the Emergency Department at Mater Dei Hospital.

The witness said she and her son arrived in Malta late on Tuesday night with her friend Michael Burian and his 15-year-old son, Benjamin, and left their Sliema apartment to find a restaurant. After spotting Burger King, which was closed, they asked a passer-by to indicate a place where to eat and they were directed to Times Square further up the road. They, therefore, decided to walk along the promenade.

Once in the vicinity of the restaurant, her son shouted out and pointed to it and they decided to cross the road right opposite the restaurant. The Burians were the first to cross and she waited for cars coming from her right to stop before crossing. She crossed the road holding her son’s hand when a car came at high speed from her left and hit him.

Under cross examination, Ms Pindufora told the court she did not see any zebra crossings in the area and took all the necessary precautions before making the crossing.

She said the car had first swerved to the right to avoid hitting Benjamin, almost brushed up against her before mowing down her son. The driver didn’t hoot the horn or brake and just carried on.

Police Inspector Anna Marie Micallef argued against bail pointing out there were two witnesses still left to testify including a member of the family of the accused, who would probably be prosecuted for perjury while testifying before the inquiring magistrate.

Defence lawyer Arthur Azzopardi said his client should not be remanded in custody because of a problem involving another person. He pointed out that the main witness had testified.

Magistrate Neville Camilleri granted Mr Felice bail against a deposit of €1,000 and a personal guarantee of €10,000.

Lawyers Emmanuel Mallia and Kathleen Grima also appeared for the accused.

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