On 18 June 2002 at around 11.15pm on the Rabat road, Patrick Cauchi and Herbert Vella died when the Alfa Romeo driven by Mr Vella burst into flames after colliding with a van. The men were trapped in the car. They were cousins and Mr Cauchi’s parents are suing their late nephew and the driver of the van, Carmel Cilia, for damages.

John and Maryann Cauchi have filed a civil case against the late Herbert Vella and Carmel Cilia. Dr Richard Sladden and Dr Mario Mifsud Bonnici were appointed as Mr Vella’s trustees and the court began hearing evidence yesterday.

Police constable Luke Stivala was on duty as part of the mobile squad on the night of the accident. He said he saw a commotion as he was driving down Rabat road. “There was an Alfa Romeo in the middle of the road with fire coming out of the bonnet.

“An overturned mini van lay on the other side of the road,” he said.

Mr Stivala noted two people sitting in the front of the crashed Alfa Romeo and then saw a hand coming out of the back window. “I ran and pulled Antoine Vella out through the rear window on the passenger side of the car. The other two people, Patrick Cauchi and Herbert Vella, were trapped in the front of the car and we had no way of getting to them – the car would have had to be cut,” the witness continued.

Several other police officers took the stand at yesterday sitting and all agreed on the positions of the cars in question. Some also mentioned brake marks made by the Alfa Romeo.

Dr Michael Zammit Maempel is assisting the Cauchis.