Almost seven months after being involved in a car crash in Gozo that claimed the life of a 22-year-old law student, the driver facing manslaughter charges can finally speak to his friends again.

Magistrate Audrey Demicoli has authorised Terrence Tanti to speak to his friends once they have now testified on the fatality.

He had been banned from speaking to any of the witnesses for the prosecution as one of the conditions imposed when he was granted bail.

Mr Tanti, 22, of San Ġwann, stands charged with the involuntary homicide of Matthew Meilak. The fatality happened at about 3.45am on January 1, in Rabat Road, Nadur, when five friends were returning home after attending a private party at a farmhouse. The car smashed into a wall and an electricity pole on the road to Victoria.

During yesterday’s sitting, a friend who was attending the party and then came across the “scenes of devastation” on his way home, described the “frantic efforts” of “panic-stricken friends” to “do something” to Mr Meilaq who was lying motionless on the ground.

“It was a scene of devastation and everybody was panicking. Terrence, [and passengers] Miguel [Camilleri] and Edward [Cole] were telling me to do something to Matthew because they knew I was a first-aider but I could immediately see that there was little hope,” Mr Mercieca said.

Mr Mercieca said he could not remember whether it had been raining but recalled that the road was “shiny”.

He said another passenger, Alex Scerri Herrera, was on site but “vanished” all of a sudden. Zachary Abela said he did not witness the accident and had not been on site but had received a call from Mr Scerri Herrera, who was suffering from such a “massive shock” that he could not talk or walk unaided.

Mr Abela said Mr Meilak, Mr Camilleri and Mr Scerri Herrera had hitched a ride with him to the Nadur farmhouse party but he left at about 1am and his friends had remained.

He said the accident had changed their lives: “We were all like brothers. I have known Terrence and Alex since primary school. I met Miguel at sixth form and Mr Cole I knew from the scouts.

“I knew Matthew since we were seven years old when we played football at Luxol. It was an accident and I found it difficult to understand why the police went to hospital for Terrence.”

He said he also found it difficult not to speak to his best friend for almost seven months because of the bail conditions imposed on Mr Tanti.

The case continues in September. Police Inspector Bernard Spiteri prosecuted. Lawyer Joe Giglio appeared for Mr Tanti.