Renald Hayman, 32, of Senglea, had his driving licence suspended for three months as from today after he rammed into a ministerial car driven by Transport Minister Joe Mizzi and fled the scene on 13 July, 2014 at around 4pm. He was also fined €200.
It is understood that the car the minister was driving was an electronic vehicle. The accused has an alcohol problem.
In a signed affidavit presented to the court, PS1122 said that as soon as he was informed of the incident, he went to the scene of the hit and run in Triq ix-Xatt, Kalkara, just before the tunnels, and found a Renault, which was being driven by Minister Joe Mizzi, parked on the side of the road.
"Minister Mizzi explained to me that on turning the curve to enter the above mentioned street, he was faced with two vehicles which he said were racing and driving in his direction.
"He said that one of the cars was white but he did not manage to see the number plate of the car but he managed to get a glance of the registration number of the other car, a grey vehicle. One of the vehicles' in question was on the wrong side of the road and although the driver pressed the brake to avoid crashing into Minister Mizzi's car, the two cars still collided.
"Minister Mizzi said that the youth reversed his car and fled instead of excusing himself. He said that the owner of the other vehicle, who witnessed the incident, did not step out of the vehicle either and left the scene as well."
Later in the day, the police determined who the owner of the vehicle was, Renald Hayman, who was found to be at Senglea's Gunners Club consuming a great amount of alcohol.
When questioned by police, the accused admitted that it was him who crashed into Minister Mizzi's vehicle, but denied ever racing his car. He said that he was in a state of panic after he had an argument with his partner, apart from the fact that he was going through turbulent times.
He also claimed that he was trying to overtake the other car at the time of the incident since the owner of the white car was not giving him space to do so.
The vehicle Hayman drove was registered on a certain Emanuel Bianchi, who at the time of the incident, was serving a prison sentence. Hayman was making use of the vehicle while Bianchi was in jail. Hayman presented a copy of the car's insurance policy and his driving license to the police.
Hayman had been jailed for holding partner against her will
In a separate case earlier this year, a court heard how a possessive man with an alcohol problem, Hayman, tied up his girlfriend and locked her inside her room for hours fearing she would go with another man. He was jailed for a year after he pleaded guilty to illegally holding his girlfriend on July 15 this year, Maria Vassallo, threatening and slightly injuring her. He also admitted attempting to cause her serious injuries and to breaching the conditions of a previous release.
Lawyers Michael and Lucio Schriha defended the accused.