A man who five years after hitting a woman with his car in St Julian’s found out the woman had died in hospital was this morning acquitted from her involuntary homicide.

David Abela, 48, of Swieqi, was this morning acquitted of causing the death of 75-year-old Elena Vella when he hit her as he was reversing out of parking spot in Triq il-Kbira, St Julian’s in February 2006.

The court heard that before reversing, Mr Abela looked in his rear view mirror but did not see anything. The accident was, however, seen by a police officer who ran over to the site and asked him to stop as he had hit a woman.

Mr Abela got out of his car and saw the woman lying down. She was taken to hospital where, unknown to the driver, she died five days later.

Mr Abela learned that the woman had died five days after the accident when he received the court summons five years later.

Medical experts testified that the woman suffered from Parkinsons disease and had suffered fractures which were not, however, life threatening. Her death was caused by gastro intestinal bleeding as a result of the anti-inflammatory drugs she was given.

The woman had also crossed the road from behind a big red telephone box and it would have been impossible for the driver to see her.

The woman, the court ruled, caused her own death by creating a sudden emergency.

Lawyer Joe Giglio represented Mr Abela.