The 35 white pills found in the trousers' pocket of the victim of the fatal car crash on New Year's day, Matthew Meilak, did not contain any illegal substance, a pharmacist told the court today.

The accident happened in the early hours of 2015, when five law students were on their way to Victoria, Gozo, after celebrating the start of the new year at a house party in Nadur, Gozo. 

As a result of the crash, one of the students, 22-year-old Matthew Meilak, lost his life. The driver, Terrance Tanti, is now being charged with his involuntary homicide.

During court proceedings, the prosecution revealed that 35 white pills were found in Meilak's trouser pockets. 

In court today, pharmacist Godwin Sammut, who was appointed by the inquiry magistrate said that laboratory mechanism could not identify what the pills were, however, it could conclude that they did not consist of any illegal substance.

Lawyer Joseph Giglio, representing Terrance Tanti, argued that this is irrelevant to court proceedings about the accident, and questioned why the prosecution brought forward the witness. 

Testifying in court, traffic expert Mario Buttigieg said that during the time of the accident, Terrance Tanti was driving on fourth gear when he crashed into the wall, then into the electricity then back into the wall. As a result, the vehicle deflected and ended up on the left side of the road, moving 41 metres without one of the rear tyres.

Asked about the road's conditions, Mr Buttigieg said the cannot conclude whether the road was wet or dry at the time, because witnesses gave contradicting versions. 

Car passengers do not recall driver drinking at party

Meanwhile, the other car passengers continued to testify in court, none recalling whether the driver was drinking or not at the party.

Edward Cole, who was sitting in the middle at the back of the car, said that he does not remember the car trip, except for the moment of impact. Asked about the night in question, Mr Cole said that the party he was drinking whiskey and so  were the rest of the passengers, however he said, 'most of the night is a blur,' and he can't recall most of what happened, or whether it was raining or not at the time of the accident. What he does remember, he said, was Meilak on the ground following the crash. 

Mr Cole himself was not severely injured, however days after the crash he noticed two bruises close to his hips. 

Another passenger, Alex Scerri Herrera, was sitting at the front passenger seat of the Peugeot, driven by Tanti, who he said was not driving at excessive speed. "If he was, I would remember being scared," he said.

Mr Scerri Herrera continued that at a point during the trip he felt an impact on the car, before he felt it skidding at the back. "At the time, I thought it was a pot hole, or a badly patched one,"" he said.

Following the accident, Mr Scerri Herrera got out of the car, not realizing the gravity of the situation. It was only  after he noticed the back of the car and Matthew Meilak on the ground that he did. Asked about weather conditions, the law student said that he noticed water on the road, and that it was slightly raining at the time he got out of the car. He also told Magistrate Audrey Demicoli that a friend with first aid skills happened to be driving by, and stopped to help the injured. 

Mr Scerri Herrera was later treated for shock at Gozo's General Hospital. 

Several witnesses, including doctors, members of the civil protection and inspectors present at the scene of the accident are still to testify.

The case has been adjourned to 16 April. Terrence Tanti is currently on bail.