Panic-stricken friends tried in vain to perform first-aid on car crash victim Matthew Meilak and other injured passengers, a magistrate heard this morning.
Christopher Mercieca, who was at the same New Years Eve party in Nadur, told the court that there was "panic" on the site of the fatal car crash on the road leading from Nadur to Victoria early on New Years Day.

He said the driver, Terrence Tanti, knew he was a first-aider and "frantically" asked him to "do something" to Mr Meilak who was laying on the ground, motionless.

"I did although I knew that there was little hope for him. All I could do was place him in the recovery position," he said.

Mr Mercieca was testifying in the compilation of evidence against Mr Tanti, 22, from San Ġwann, who stands charged with the involuntary homicide of Mr Meilak, a 22-year-old law student.

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 at the second bend in the long road leading to Victoria.

Mr Mercieca explained that he was returning home with friends when they came across the car crash.

"There was a scene of devastation and everybody was panicking. Terrence, [and passengers] Miguel [Camilleri] and Edward [Cole] were all 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 explained, recalling the ugly scenes when his friends were involved in a horrific traffic accident.

Mr Mercieca said he could not remember whether it had been raining but remember that the road was "shiny". He said another passenger, Alex Scerri Herrera, was on site but "vanished" all of a sudden.

Another friend, Zachary Abela, did not witness the accident and neither did he go on site but received a call from Mr Scerri Herrera who was suffering from a "massive shock" that he could not talk or walk unaided.

Mr Abela was the driver of the car with which Mr Meilak, Mr Camilleri and Mr Scerri Herrera had gone to the Nadur farmhouse party but he left at around 1am while his friends remained at the party.

He told the court how 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 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 how the police went to hospital and arrested Terrence."

He said he also found it difficult not to speak to his best friend for almost seven months as one of Mr Tanti's bail conditions was not to speak to any of the witnesses.

At the end of the sitting, Magistrate Demicoli altered the condition and granted Mr Tanti permission to speak to his friends who had already testified.
The case continues in September.

Police Inspector Bernard Spiteri prosecuted while lawyer Joe Giglio appeared for Mr Tanti.