A warden has been cleared of seriously injuring an 81-year-old woman who he hit with the car while she was crossing Labour Avenue in Naxxar in 2012. 

Magistrate Neville Camilleri found that Maria Vittoria Sultana had crossed negligently and was not keeping a proper lookout when she crossed the road. He also noted that the incident happened just metres from a pedestrian crossing that the elderly woman opted not to use. 

He was ruling in a criminal case brought against warden Albert Lia, 52, from Birzebbuga over a traffic accident, involving the warden's official vehicle, at 7am on March 5, 2012. 

Ms Sultana, who has since passed away, had fractured her femur, hip bone and left arm. 

Court experts appointed to assist in the magisterial inquiry had reported that the damage to the warden's car were "minimal" and that the warden was driving at moderate speed. There were no brake marks. 

Mr Lia said the woman emerged from behind a parked vehicle just two metres away, giving him no time to stop the car and avoid her. To make matters worse, it was raining at the time of the incident. 

Given the finding of the court experts, Magistrate Camilleri ruled that Ms Sultana was to blame for the accident, for failing to keep a proper lookout and for crossing a busy street without using one of the two pedestrian crossings at her disposal. Ms Sultana had said she did not walk to the zebra crossing as it was far for her to walk to. 

He therefore cleared Mr Lia of seriously injuring Ms Sultana and of driving negligently. 

Police Inspector Josric Mifsud prosecuted.