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THE motorcycle used in the fatal Rabat crash on 27 August, which claimed the life of 33-year-old Cristi Robles, was travelling at 100km/h, a court heard on Tues- day. The fatal crash took place 27 August 2024 at Triq it-Tabija, Ra- bat when the motorcycle collided with a nearby pole. Cristi Robles was found dead at the scene lying in a pool of blood with visible head injuries. Robles was the passenger on the motor- cycle and was not wearing a hel- met. The accused, Karol Yisset Bello Marin, the driver of the motorcy- cle was arraigned on 18 Novem- ber 2024. The Colombian national was charged with involuntary homi- cide, reckless and negligent driv- ing, and driving without a licence or valid insurance. Bello Marin denied all charges. Inspector Francesco Mizzi took the stand and informed the court that he was alerted of an accident in Rabat. Upon arriving at the scene, Miz- zi discovered Robles' lifeless body and traces of blood on the pole. Mizzi also noted the odometer ly- ing on the ground nearby, which still read 100km/h. Mizzi further said that extracted CCTV footage from a nearby bar showed the two women drinking heavily before the crash. Robles was previously working at the same bar, with her shift ending at 3pm and subsequently stayed at the bar drinking with the accused. "They were clearly intoxicated and in no condition to operate a motorcycle," Mizzi told the court. He added that footage showed the two women leaving the bar and struggling to lift up the motorcy- cle from the floor. Just minutes later, the footage exhibited the crash, with the mo- torcycle being driven at excessive speed, which led to the fatal death of Cristi Robles. The prosecution is being led by AG lawyer Darlene Grima togeth- er with Mizzi. Lawyer Ana Thomas is repre- senting the accused. The case is being heard by Mag- istrate Gabriella Vella. 4 NEWS maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 23 APRIL 2025 Motorcycle in 2024 fatal Rabat crash was travelling at 100km/h, court told Victim and driver were seen drinking heavily at a nearby bar hours before crash, with police inspector saying vehicle's odometer was still showing a speed of 100 km/h after the accident Man stabbed in the back during dispute over car battery A man who was allegedly stabbed in his back during an argument in a road in Gżira following a dispute over an unreturned car battery, told the court he did not see the accused attack him. The compilation of evidence against 32-year-old Aaron Sam- mut, who allegedly injured Car- mel Zahra during an argument, began before the court on Mon- day. Sammut was arraigned on 10 April and faced multiple charges, including slight bodily harm, car- rying a knife in public without a licence, disturbing public peace and recidivism. Sammut has de- nied all allegations. During the altercation, both Zahra and Sammut were injured. Sammut had also suffered griev- ous facial injuries and was found covered in blood by the police. Son of victim takes the stand The son of the victim, Josef Zah- ra, a car electrician, took the stand and recounted that on 8 April, a client's car had broken down in the vicinity where the stabbing took place and, on his way, to as- sist the client, encountered Sam- mut and requested the return of the car battery in question. According to Josef Zahra, Sam- mut sarcastically replied "Are you still going at it?", pulled out a flick knife and threatened him. Following this, Josef went to the Gżira police station and report- ed the incident. The police of- ficers on duty told him that they "couldn't help him". Zahra later returned to the client's car accom- panied by his father. Upon returning to the scene, the pair encountered Sammut again who was holding a different piece of metal and according to Zahra, Sammut attacked him and his fa- ther. Upon seeing his father's inju- ries, Zahra panicked, grabbed the weapon out of Sammut's hand and defended himself and his fa- ther. The court heard that he al- legedly panicked after thinking that his father's lungs had been injured. The court heard that Zahra only knew Sammut after encountering him several times sleeping in his car, parked outside his garage. Although he was warned by the court of his right not to testify due to ongoing separate proceedings in connection to the same inci- dent, Zahra still chose to testify. Victim testifies in court Carmel Zahra later testified and confirmed his son's version of events. He told the court he was asked by his son to accompany him to retrieve a broken-down car, and that they only knew Sam- mut as he usually parked his vehi- cle in front of their garage. He told the court that he was informed that same day that Sam- mut never returned the car bat- tery to his son. When questioned on the alter- cation, Zahra admitted that he did not see Sammut strike him but was only told that he had been stabbed by bystanders. He further admitted that his son had started hitting Sammut but when questioned how and by whom Sammut had been injured, he said he did not know, nor did he remember. There are no ongoing proceed- ings against Carmel Zahra. Following the testimony, de- fence lawyer Yanica Barbara Sant requested the court to show the CCTV footage and further argued that the video in question does not show Sammut wielding a knife. The courtroom was not equipped to play the CD contain- ing the video, and the presiding magistrate postponed the father's testimony to next week until the footage could be accessed. The sitting was adjourned to 29 April. Magistrate Ann Marie Thake presided over the court. Police inspector Ian Azzopardi prosecuted. Defence lawyer Yanica Barbara Sant represented the accused. MAYA GALEA mgalea@mediatoday.com.mt MAYA GALEA mgalea@mediatoday.com.mt Photo: Malta Police Force File photo