A 20-year-old man who admitted to the involuntary homicide of a friend and seriously injuring three others when the car he was driving crashed into a tree near Portes De Bombes, in Blata l-Bajda was given a suspended jail term yesterday.

Emanuel Gauci, of Għaxaq, was driving a red Mercedes Benz when the incident happened on January 3, 2010 at about 9.30 p.m.

Keith Bezzina, 20, died and Glenn Cauchi and Nicholas Cassar, both 20, and Giorgio Domenico Peresso, 22, were badly hurt. Ryan Farrugia, also 22, was slightly injured.

Magistrate Doreen Clarke said there were a number of factors she had to take into consideration before handing down judgment. However, the main consideration would remain the seriousness of the incident, which resulted in death and serious injury. She took into account the fact that Mr Gauci had fully cooperated with the police, had pleaded guilty at an early stage of the proceedings, had a clean police record and was still young.

The magistrate said Mr Gauci had to live with the guilt which left a huge impact on him and which convinced the court no judgment could ever have the same effect. The fact that he pleaded guilty demonstrated he realised the gravity of his actions.

The magistrate also suspended his driving licence for two years.