Driver who killed elderly couple in high-speed crash handed suspended sentence

A driver who caused the death of an elderly couple in a 2009 traffic accident was handed a suspended prison sentence and fined earlier today, after a court observed the psychological suffering the man had endured as a result.

Edward Bonnici, from Naxxar, had been accused of the involuntary homicide of Barry and Patricia Mitchell, who died when their Hyundai Matiz was hit by Bonnici's Peugeot 407 as they were negotiating a roundabout outside St. Paul's Bay.

The collision, which occurred at around 9:15pm on 12 December 2009, wrecked both cars, the Hyundai coming to rest 15m away from the point of impact and the Peugeot hitting a palm tree.

Patricia Mitchell died at the scene, followed a few hours later by her husband, who died in hospital.

Bonnici was accused of the couple's involuntary homicide, whose death had been caused by his negligence. He was 18 at the time.

The court was told that the driving conditions had been optimal at the time of the accident and that the accused had not consumed any alcohol.

However, from the skid marks, it was established that the car had been travelling at 137Km/h when it hit a centre strip and crashed.

Bonnici had claimed to have suffered a braking failure, but this was contradicted by the evidence tendered by a court expert.

Magistrate Josette Demicoli noted that in spite of the serious nature of the incident, the court could only impose the law in force at the time of the incident.

In deciding on punishment, the court took into account the accused's inexperience and sincere regret for having caused the elderly couple's demise. It noted that Bonnici had refused to leave home for a long time after the accident.

The court handed down a sentence of two years' imprisonment, suspended for three years, and ordered Bonnici to pay €4,210 in costs. He was also disqualified from holding a driving licence for two years.