A court expert told a court this morning that no illegal substance was found in the white pills found in the jacket of New Year's Day crash victim Matthew Meilak.
Pharmacist Godwin Sammut, who had been appointed by the court to analyse the 35 pills found in a container, said the lab's equipment dis not determine what the pills were but excluded that they contained any illegal substance.
He was testifying during the compilation of evidence in the case against Terrence Tanti, 22, from San Ġwann, who stands charged with the involuntary homicide of Mr Meilak, a 22-year-old law student.
The fatality occurred at about 3.45am on New Year’s Day in Rabat Road, Nadur, when five friends were returning home after attending a private party at a farmhouse. Their car smashed into the wall at the second bend on the long road that leads to Victoria.
Mr Tanti's defence lawyer Joe Giglio told the court that the analysis of the pills was "completely irrelevant" to the case in question, adding that it was not fair that a bad light was shed on the deceased. However, it was pointed out that since the pills were found by the police and the inquiring magistrate had appointed a court expert, the findings had to be presented in court.
During this morning's sitting, traffic expert Mario Buttigieg said he could not establish the speed at which the car was being driven at the time because there were contrasting version of whether the road was wet or not. "To be able to establish the speed at the moment of impact, I first have to establish the conditions of the road. The witnesses gave contrasting accounts so I cannot determine the speed," he said.
What he could state as a fact was that the car was on fourth gear at the moment of impact and that it first crashed into the wall and then the pole and back onto the wall. He said the car came to a standstill 41 metres from the point of the first impact. The car's back tyre on the driver's side came off on impact.
Two passengers who were in the car at the time of the crash - Edward Cole and Alexander Scerri Herrera - told the court that they could remember very little of the accident.
Mr Cole, who was sitting on the back seat in the middle, said that "most of the night is a blur" and that he could remember only the moment of impact.
"I remember the moment of impact but that is all. I saw Matt (Meilak) on the road at the side of the car but that is all I remember. I don't remember the velocity. Most of the night is a blur."
Mr Scerri Herrera said he was sitting on the front seat and could remember that as they were driving, he felt something hitting the bottom of the car before it began skidding from the back. "I do not know whether it was a pothole."
"I felt we were going to crash so I instinctively went into the brace position," he said, adding that it was only when he got out of the car and saw his friend lying on the ground that he realised the extent of the crash.
He said the car had no damage on the passenger side and windscreen was intact.
He said he could not say whether the road was wet at the time but could remember that there was a stream of water on their lane. The windscreen also had drops.
Mr Scerri Herrera said he was in shock and did not want to remain on the scene of the accident so accepted a lift with a car that passed by and later went to hospital.
Asked whether he remembered the velocity, Mr Scerri Herrera said he was not looking at the speedometer at the time but the car was not being driver at excessive speed "because usually I get scared at that day I was not scared".
The case continues next month.
Police Inspector Bernard Spiteri prosecuted.
Lawyers Errol Cutajar, Daniela Mangion, Kenneth Grima and Veronique Dalli appeared parte civile for Mr Meilak's family, passenger Miguel Camilleri, Mr Cole and Mr Scerri Herrera respectively.