Why should a father pay for the mistakes of his adult son, lawyer Joe Brincat asked rhetorically as he filed a request to have back the car Maximilian Ciantar was in when arrested on Wednesday.

This second request for the car comes a day after Mr Ciantar pleaded not guilty to violating a driving ban, driving without insurance or licence, taking the car without the permission of his father, who owns it, and relapsing.

Mr Ciantar had been jailed for two years on July 27 after he was found guilty of mowing down 11-year-old twin sisters as they crossed the road on a zebra crossing in Attard last year.

He was released from prison on October 31 because he had already served 16 months, considering also the time he spent in preventative custody.

He walked out of jail eight months early due to good conduct despite having set fire to his cell last year.

Dr Brincat first made the request for the car to be returned to its owner on Mr Ciantar’s arraignment on Thursday. He pointed out that the van used in the hit-and-run involving the twins had been released. He said the van, which also belonged to the father, Emanuel Ciantar, had been stripped of certain items.

In his application to the Magistrates’ Court, Dr Brincat said Mr Ciantar Snr was not charged with anything so there was no reason why he should be punished by being deprived of his car.

The case continues.