A 59-year-old taxi driver was taken to court today, accused of causing the death of a young Romanian woman who was hit in the Regional Road tunnel yesterday morning and died on the spot.
Luciano Tabone, from Balzan, was charged with having caused the involuntary death of Loredana Nemes through dangerous and reckless driving at an excessive speed. He was also charged with relapsing.
The man sat in the dock sipping water, as the boyfriend of the victim took the witness stand to describe the last moments of his girlfriend's life.
Luciano Agostini, a Brazilian-national residing in Rome who has been living in Malta for last five months was the sole witness of the accident.
Breaking down upon taking the witness stand, the distraught man had to be calmed downed by the magistrate who expressed his condolences and sought to comfort the witness before the latter could speak.
The man told the court how around 10.30pm on the night before the fatality, the couple had gone for dinner in St Julian's with his brother who had just arrived for a holiday in Malta.
After dinner, the group went for a cocktail at a pub nearby. The couple had returned on foot to their flat in San Ġwann around 2am since they had to face work next day. However, once back home, the couple had a verbal argument. It was a normal, lovers' tiff, the man pointed out.
Packing up his bags in the heat of the argument, he walked out and headed towards the B&B in Paceville where his brother was staying although it was close to 4.30am.
Just as he got to the tunnels, with suitcase and bag in hand, he walked some 20 to 30 metres when he heard a loud thud.
He explained how he had been walking on the pavement on the right, moving along the same direction as the traffic, without realising that his girlfriend had been following him. It was only upon hearing the loud thud that he turned sideways and saw the girl flipping over herself over a distance of some 20 metres.
She had been mid-way across the tunnel when she was allegedly hit by the taxi approaching from the rear. The vehicle, visible under the lights of the tunnel, came to a halt further ahead. The witness could not remember whether he had heard any brake sounds. He recognised the taxi driver in court.
The witness once again broke down as he recalled how he began to scream while rushing towards his girlfriend's side. He did not leave her side and recalled how at the time there was no passing traffic.
Next to testify was Raffaele Agostini, his brother, also residing in Rome and currently in Malta on holiday. He confirmed the events of Tuesday evening when the group of friends had gone out together in St Julian's, explaining that his brother and Loredana, the victim whom he had known for four years, had appeared happy as usual.
The defence asked for bail, which was allowed by the prosecution and granted by the court, presided over by magistrate Anthony Vella. Bail was granted against a deposit of €1,000 and a personal guarantee of €6,000. No curfew was imposed in view of the involuntary nature of the offence. He is to sign the bail book every Wednesday and Sunday between 8am and 8pm.
Legal procurator was Peter Paul Zammit. Lawyer Roberto Montalto, engaged by the Italian Embassy, appeared parte civile. Inspector Nikolai Sant prosecuted.