A driver who punched a woman in the face after she hooted her horn has avoided a month in jail after an appeal court declared the original judgment null due to a procedural error.

The reprieve may be temporary, however, as the court ordered the case to be reheard.

The court heard that Joseph Cutajar, 38, from Msida, was about to drive on to the Birkirkara bypass near Mater Dei Hospital without stopping at a yield sign and only halted when Ana Maria Vella sounded her horn.

Mr Cutajar overtook her vehicle to position his car in front of hers and stopped, forcing her to stop as well.

He then got out of his car, walked over to her and punched her in the face for sounding the horn, the court heard.

The first court sentenced Mr Cutajar to a month in jail.

On appeal, however, Mr Justice Antonio Mizzi found that the judgment lacked the procedural prerequisites as there were no articles of law mentioned.

He declared the judgment null and ordered that the case should be reheard. Lawyers Franco Debono and Marion Camilleri appeared for Mr Cutajar.