A man was ordered to pay e35,852 (Lm15,391) to another man who was involved in a traffic accident caused by the first man’s son.

The Magistrates’ Court in Gozo, presided over by Magistrate Anthony Ellul ordered Peter Paul Grech and his son Antoine Grech to pay for damages suffered by Joseph Borg when he was involved in a traffic accident caused by the son on 18 October 1998.

The court heard how Antoine Grech, who at the time was a minor, stole his father’s car keys and was involved in an accident Triq ta’ Xhajma, Nadur.

In handing down his judgement, Magistrate Ellul said that Peter Paul Grech had failed to conceal his car keys even though he knew that his son was tempted to drive his car. Peter Paul Grech had said that his son had never driven a car before; however, the magistrate did not believe him as the Antoine Grech had succeeded in driving the car for a considerable distance on the day of the accident. Furthermore, witnesses in court said that they had seen Antoine Grech drive a motorcycle when he was 14 years old.

Antoine Grech had testified that he was tempted with driving his father’s car, which he had bought the day before the accident.