A karozzin owner who last summer hit a British tourist while speeding through a narrow Mdina road was fined €500 and had his licence disqualified for three months by a court.

Oliver Schembri, 35, from Qormi was found guilty of negligent driving and inflicting grievous injuries to Jocelyn Johnson, who ended up with a broken hand.

The incident happened on the afternoon of August 16, in Triq San Pietru which has no pavement and is barely wide enough for a karozzin to go through. Though the victim had dashed to the side as soon as she had seen the carriage approaching, her hand got stuck in it and was only released when the defendant realised what happened and stopped. He then accompanied the woman for medical treatment at the Rabat health centre.

In its decision, the court presided by Magistrate Doreen Clarke acquitted the man of dangerous driving but found him guilty of negligence as he did not give enough time to the pedestrian to seek shelter in the limited space available by the side of the road.

While confirming that the defendant was speeding, it dismissed his argument that he could not brake for fear that the horse would slip.

Anyone acquainted with such a popular tourist site as Mdina should expect pedestrians and so should be prepared for such an emergency, the court said.

Police inspector Edel Mary Camilleri prosecuted.