Six months’ jail for youth in pillion rider death

The accident took place in 2006 when Sultana, who at the time was still a minor, had bought a motorcycle registered under a certain Kevin Camilleri the month preceding the accident.

The court observed that the accused neither held a driving license nor an insurance cover.

On 21 December 2006, Sultana and the victim Xerri, riding pillion, were driving in the limits of Xaghra. Upon turning a corner, Sultana lost control of the motorcycle going on to the other side of the road and impacted onto an oncoming Pajero, driven by another Joseph Xerri, also from Xaghra.

In the impact, the two youths were thrown to the ground and the motorcycle destroyed to pieces. The Pajero driver also lost control of his vehicle since his side-window broke and shards went into his face, impairing his vision. The car crashed into a wall, but Xerri only suffered light injuries.

However the seventeen-year-old Xerri later succumbed to the grievous injuries he had suffered.

The court noted that the main reason behind the accident was Sultana’s excessive speed and dangerous driving, leading to a much bigger impact. Magistrate Grima condemned the accused to six months’ imprisonment suspended for a year while suspending his license for a year.