Photo above is a file photo
A cabby whose horse-drawn carriage hit a British tourist at Mdina was ordered to pay a fine of €500 while his licence was suspended for three months.
36-year-old Oliver Schembri, who lives in Hal Qormi, was accused that on 16 August 2015, at around 4pm in Mdina, was driving his horse-drawn carriage and hit Jocelyne Louise Johnson. The woman suffered from grievous injuries. The man was also accused of driving the horse carriage negligently and in a dangerous manner.
Johnson told Magistrate Doreen Clarke how she was walking near Mdina with a group of people when they suddenly saw a horse-drawn carriage being driven at a high speed.
The road was narrow and there was no pavement. She tried to move aside but her arm was struck by the carriage and got pulled by it. She told the court how she kept running with the carriage until she managed to break away.
The victim explained that the driver stopped the carriage and took her to the policlinic in Rabat. She was then referred to the policlinic in Mosta and later was sent to Mater Dei hospital. It appeared that the woman had a broken bone.
She said that a report to the police was filed on 18 August but told the court that she did not want the driver to lose his job, but to at least, be aware of the danger caused by a speeding horse carriage.
Her testimony was supported by Patrick Swaddle, another tourist in her group.
The accused admitted the charges brought against him. However he explained that he was driving at a high speed because the pavement was very slippery.
Schembri told the court he waited for the tourist at the policlinic in Rabat and did not realize that the tourist had actually left.
Proof presented in court confirmed that St Peter’s street in Imdina, where the incident occurred, is part of the route used by horse drawn cabs, as approved by Transport Malta and the local council.
The Magistrate noted that the street was very narrow and that the only way pedestrians can avoid being hit is by trying to rest onto a door step.
She however remarked the excessive way in which the carriage was driven. The court found him guilty of excessive driving but not of driving with negligence and told the accused that it was his duty to drive slowly in the streets of Imdina. He was ordered to pay a fine and have his licence suspended for a period of three months.