The charges against a Frenchman accused of dangerous driving and injuring people yesterday grew in severity following the death of his wife, who was his passenger in a bad car accident last July.

Jean Guy Legendre, 67, from Quebec, was originally charged with seriously injuring three people, including his 63-year-old wife Renèe Pelland, slightly injuring a fourth person and damaging his rental car and a BMW sports car. The BMW was being driven by 26-year-old Clayton James Fenech. The accident occurred on Triq l-Infetti, near Mdina, on July 16. During the sitting yesterday, Police Inspector Kevin Farrugia asked the court to raise the charge involving the man’s wife to involuntary homicide.

Ms Pelland passed away on September 9 and her funeral was held last Saturday in Canada.

In the previous sitting, an expert appointed during the magisterial inquiry, Mario Buttigieg, testified that the accident happened through no fault of Mr Legendre.

Charges of involuntary homicide are also expected to be filed against Mr Fenech who decided not to testify in the case so as not to incriminate himself.

Yesterday, lawyer Arthur Azzopardi, appearing for Mr Fenech, said he was objecting to the report by Mr Buttigieg being entered as evidence because he was and possible still is an employee of the same insurance company that insured the car driven by Mr Legendre. This was a clear conflict of interest, the lawyer added.

Magistrate Edwina Grima asked for the allegation to be substantiated and deferred the case to November.

Lawyer Stefano Filletti appeared for Mr Legendre.