A motorcyclist who died last year when his motorcycle was hit by a car driven by a policeman had no licence to drive a motorcycle, a court heard today.

The accident happened in January 2014 in Triq il-Konvoy Ta' Santa Maria in Mqabba.

Policeman Jean-Claude Mangion, 20, from Qrendi, was driving to work just after 5am when he hit the motorcycle. Clive Brincat, 32, from Floriana, died instantly.

Mr Mangion is facing charges of involuntary homicide through negligence and over-speeding. He also stands accused of committing a crime that he was duty bound to prevent.

He is pleading not guilty.

Transport Malta representative Karen Cremona told the court that Mr Brincat was not licensed to drive a motorcycle. He only had a car licence, which was expired at the time of the accident.

Paul Bezzina, in whose name the motorcycle was registered, said that the Piaggio Runner motorcycle was registered in his name "as a favour" but it did not actually belong to him. Prior to the incident, the two had agreed to meet to make the formal transfer. However Mr Brincat died before the formal transfer could take place.

Defence lawyer Robert Abela pressed Mr Bezzina to reveal the "favour" but Magistrate Doreen Clarke said that for the purposes of the case, the detail was irrelevant.

Inspector Johann Fenech prosecuted and lawyer Franco Galea appeared parte civile for the Brincat family.

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