Joanne Persiano, 35 of Pieta was today cleared of having caused the death of a motorcyclist in an accident at St Joseph High Road on July 8, 2007.

The court was told that Ms Persiano was driving a Rover out of Canon Road onto St Joseph High Road when a motorcycle driven by Clint Vella crashed into her. Mr Vella was thrown some seven metres away with the force of impact and died shortly after in hospital.

There were no witnesses to the accident.

Court experts said it had been established that the motorcycle was being driven at excessive speed and Mr Vella could not control it when he saw the Rover emerging onto the main road.

Ms Persiano said she had stopped at the stop sign at the corner and inched her way out into the road because her view of oncoming traffic was blocked by parked cars. She suddenly heard a motorcycle being driven towards her at high speed and she stopped her vehicle, but the motorcycle crashed into it.

The court said that while the motorcyclist could not give his version of events and no one else had come forward to say what happened, it was clear that speed was the cause of this accident.

It had also resulted that the victim was not familiar with the motorcycle, which was not his and was not covered by a road licence and insurance since it had been garaged.

The court therefore cleared the accused of all charges.