A court has acquitted Clyde Piscopo Garzia of all charges linked to a runaway horse that collided with a car in Żejtun last summer, after the prosecution failed to show he had been controlling the animal at the time.

Piscopo Garzia, 29, had been accused of operating a horse or horse-drawn cart without necessary permits, reflective gear, or third-party insurance. He was also charged with allowing the animal onto the road without authorisation and negligently causing damage to a car belonging to Anthony Demicoli. Police additionally sought licence disqualification and penalty-point deductions.

The incident occurred on 30 June 2024 at around 9:15am, when a horse pulling a small cart hit a stationary Mazda Demio at the traffic lights on Triq tal-Barrani. Driver Nevise Demicoli testified she saw the horse approaching in her mirror before it struck the rear and side of the car and continued running down the road. Insurance later covered the damage.

Witness Jonathan Spiteri said he saw the horse running alone in the same road and managed to catch it. He confirmed he saw no rider or driver. After enquiries, he learned the horse belonged to Piscopo Garzia. The accused's father arrived shortly afterwards, and Piscopo Garzia had reportedly been taken to hospital.

A Gasan Mamo Insurance representative confirmed that the insurer paid for repairs under a comprehensive policy and that Piscopo Garzia later went to their offices to settle the related costs.

Magistrate Yana Micallef Stafrace found the prosecution had not proved who was controlling the horse at the time. The court noted the absence of CCTV or other visual evidence and ruled that a version of events submitted by the accused's lawyer could not be treated as his own statement due to lack of explicit authorisation.

With the evidence insufficient, the court acquitted Piscopo Garzia of all charges.