A compilation of evidence yesterday showed that Anthony Taliana, the man charged with the involuntary homicide of cyclist Cliff Micallef on the Coast Road at 5.15am on 30 July, had had 12 glasses of vodka coke between one and five o’clock in the morning prior to driving.

Besides being accused of the fatal accident, Mr Taliana is also being charged in connection with another road accident in which a 17-year-old girl was seriously injured two years ago.

Mr Taliana is pleading not guilty to both charges, and of driving under the influence of alcohol, failing to stop the car after hitting the cyclist, driving without insurance cover and relapsing.

Magistrate Audrey Demicoli heard Godwin Sammut, a forensic expert at the Malta national laboratory unit, testifying that when he examined the accused’s urine from a sample taken six hours after the accident, 98 milligrammes per decilitre of alcohol had been found, which was nine milligrammes lower than the legal limit.

Without going into much detail, Dr Sammut said that while the legal maximum amount of alcohol in the blood stands at 80 milligrammes per 100 millilitres in Malta, the consumption of the 12 vodka cokes signifies that Mr Taliana was more than twice over the maximum limit allowed.

As tests, which were carried out using scientific estimates and international calculations, took place in the morning after the fatal accident, Dr Sammut also took into account Mr Taliana’s urine alcohol content, and tests which resulted from his urine and breath.

Prosecuting Inspector Kevin Farrugia said the accused was eventually found lying on a bed in the morning and his bed reeked of alcohol. A breathalyser test taken six hours after the incident marked 33ml when 35ml indicates a high level of drunkenness.

However Dr Michael Schiriha, appearing for the accused, argued that studies conducted cannot be very accurate because the calculations are merely based on blood and urine samples which were taken long after the alleged impact of collision. Furthermore, the fact that the studies are hypotheses of what happened sheds no light into the case, argued Dr Schiriha.

Mr Taliana was put under house arrest against a deposit of e1,500 and a personal guarantee of e5,000 at an earlier stage during the proceedings.

The case is due to continue in February.