Gaetano Sammut’s photo of his mother, Ċensina, who was killed in a hit-and-run incident 29 years ago. Photo: Ian Pace

Almost 30 years after an unidentified driver ran over his mother and dragged her along the road for about a kilometre, Gaetano Sammut is still searching for justice – and is now reaching out to the public for help.

“I want justice. Before I leave this world I want to know that my mother’s case has been closed. You can’t imagine what it feels like – having your mother killed by someone who is not held responsible.

“I still feel angry all the time. I just want peace,” the 55-year-old told Times of Malta.

Mr Sammut’s mother, Ċensina, was 66 years old and a widow with four adult children when she was run over and killed while crossing the road in Ħamrun, on June 13, 1984, at 9pm. She was on the zebra crossing near the police station when a car identified to be a station wagon hit her and dragged her the distance of about a kilometre to the area near the Labour Party club in Santa Venera.

Back then Times of Malta reported: “Her handbag and shoes were found on the spot where she was hit, while the pieces of her dress were found at the other end in St Joseph Street where the runaway car swerved and dashed into St George’s Street…”

You can’t imagine what it feels like – having your mother killed by someone who is not held responsible

Ms Sammut was left moaning in pain in the middle of the road. A doctor who happened to be in the area assisted her until she was taken to hospital where she died an hour later.

Police investigated the case but the driver of the station wagon was never found.

Mr Sammut recalled that he was at work at the time. “I remember I got home at about 11pm and was told my mother was dead after being run over… She must have been walking home after spending some time in the Fra Diegu square with friends on a summer evening,” he said.

Given that the accident happened in a very busy area there were several witnesses, but the police never had enough evidence to charge anyone with her death, Mr Sammut said.

Although 29 years have passed he still cannot accept the horrible way in which his mother died. He is still angered by the fact that the person who dragged her underneath his car did not stop to help her.

He still seethes at the thought that that person has not faced the consequences of killing an innocent woman.

While he understands that the police have their limitations, he is now calling on anyone who had information to speak up and help him close the case.

Questions were sent to the police asking about the investigations into the case. No reply was received by the time of writing.