An inexperienced driver whose reckless driving claimed the life of a young mother was today found guilty of involuntary murder and condemned to 350 hours of community service and temporarily banned from driving.

Matthew Barbara, 25, who was just 18 at the time of the accident, had just obtained his driving licence when he crashed his Mitsubishi into a Toyota being driven by Rosianne Azzopardi, accompanied by her one-year-old baby.

The fatality occurred on July 9, 2010 at around 4.50am when the accused was navigating a bend along John Houel Street, Naxxar at some 105km/hour.

READ: Baby survives crash but her mother dies

Forensic experts certified that although road conditions at the time of the accident were slippery with dew, the weather was clear and visibility was good.

Owing to his reckless and dangerous driving, the accused skidded and totally lost control of his vehicle which crashed head-on straight into the vehicle driven by the victim in the opposite direction.

The court, presided by magistrate Antonio Micallef Trigona, noted that although the young mother died on impact, her baby straddled in the car seat luckily escaped unharmed.

The court declared the accused guilty of involuntary murder and of having damaged third party property owing to his dangerous and reckless driving.

"His inexperience and immaturity in driving matters" might have been his only excuse, the court remarked.

Deeming a jail term inappropriate, the court condemned the accused to 350 hours of community service and a fine. He was also fined €80, ordered to pay all court expenses and banned from driving for 3 months. His Mitsubishi was also confiscated under court order.