The magistrates’ court jailed a woman for six months suspended for a year and suspended her driving licence for three months after she crashed head-on into another car, causing a woman to lose her 20-week-old baby.

Josianne Dimech, 30, from Valletta, pleaded guilty, before presiding magistrate Edwina Grima, to grievously injuring Clare Ciappara when she lost control of the car she was driving and ended up in the opposite lane where she crashed head on into Ms Ciappara’s car.

She also admitted to damaging two cars, driving recklessly and dangerously and at a high speed on 22 August 2005 at around 7pm in Valletta.

The court heard how Ms Ciappara was 20-weeks pregnant when the accident took place and how Ms Ciappara lost the baby when she was taken to St Luke’s Hospital soon after.

Court expert Mario Scerri said that the death of the baby was a result of the trauma from the seat-belt injuries that were caused by the accident.

The court noted that traffic accidents, and more specifically, seat-belt injury was one of the most common causes of miscarriage.

In handing down her judgement, magistrate Grima noted Dimech’s clean criminal record and that she shouldered all responsibility for the accident.

As a result, the court jailed Dimech for six months suspended for one year and ordered that her driving licence is suspended for three months.

Police Inspector Alexander Grech prosecuted while Dr Jose Herrera and Dr Veronique Dalli appeared for Dimech.