Justice Minister Owen Bonnici was yesterday acquitted of speeding, negligent driving and causing a traffic accident that seriously injured a man, after a court ruled that the prosecution had not proven its case.

The accident occurred at about 8.30pm on April 3 just outside the Santa Venera tunnels.

Driving his personal car, a Hyundai i20, Dr Bonnici crashed into a stationary Daewoo Matiz which, upon impact, hit a van parked in front of it, mounted the pavement and came to rest against a wall, the court heard.

Alies Abdul Hadi suffered grievous injuries as result of the accident.

In his testimony, he told the court that his car had stalled so he parked by the pavement and called his brother to come and help him. When his brother, Josef, arrived some 15 minutes later, he parked his van in front of the stationary vehicle.

I was not speeding as there is a speed camera outside the tunnel and no one likes getting fined, including me

The bonnet was open and they were standing in front of the car trying to get it to start when the crash occurred.

Mr Hadi said he was thrown into the air and landed nearly two metres away from his car.

He heard his brother saying “Ar’ hemm, ar’ hemm” (look out).

The victim and his brother claimed Dr Bonnici was speeding as both their cars were displaced on impact.

Neither of the two heard any screeching of tyres, they said when asked. Dr Bonnici confirmed this during his testimony, saying he was so “surprised” to find a car parked there that he “did not even brake”.

The brothers also said that both their vehicles had their hazard lights and headlamps on.

However, Dr Bonnici insisted he saw no hazard lights and two policemen also testified they were not on when they arrived at the scene later.

Dr Bonnici said: “I was so surprised to find a car parked there, on the bend, that I did not even brake. I was not speeding as there is a speed camera outside the tunnel and no one likes getting fined, including me.”

He said he almost fainted in the immediate aftermath of the accident, especially when he saw the injured man on the ground.

The prosecution insisted he had not kept a proper lookout as required by law. Police Inspector Robert Vella, who led the prosecution, argued the accident was the result of negligent driving.

But Dr Bonnici’s defence lawyers said the case had not been proven beyond reasonable doubt. It had also been established that the cars were parked at the bend, the most dangerous spot in that stretch of road.

Magistrate Stafrace Zammit upheld this argument and ruled that it had not been proven that Dr Bonnici was speeding or that he was driving negligently. The brothers had also confirmed the car was parked in a dangerous spot. She cleared Dr Bonnici of the charges.

Lawyers Louis Bianchi and Joseph Buttigieg appeared for Dr Bonnici while lawyer Edward Debono appeared parte civile for the victims.

Dr Debono told the court that all material damages had been paid but reserved the right to pursue the case for compensation in the civil court.

Mr Hadi is expected to be medically re-examined in January to determine whether his injuries will result in a permanent disability. He is still receiving treatment for a fractured knee.

Dr Debono vociferously criticised the media for the “hype” around this “unfortunate” traffic accident, remarking that Chief Justice Silvio Camilleri had been right in criticising the media for campaigns mounted on certain court cases.

As he left court, Dr Bonnici said justice had taken its course and that he had appeared in court “as any ordinary citizen”.

He said that even though it was the justice minister in the dock, he still felt he did not have to resign because he was not charged with a voluntary crime.