Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1541426
A magistrate has warned that sending the case of 29-year- old Renald Aquilina back for a third rehearing could expose his victim, Moira Cauchi, to secondary victimisation. Aquilina, a former taxi driv- er, was twice convicted of hit- ting the 51-year-old woman while she and a friend were on a pedestrian crossing at the Strand in Gżira. Aquilina was driving at 110km/h when he mowed down Cauchi, leav- ing her critically injured. She spent months in intensive care and a neurosurgical ward, re- turning home only after more than a year. The initial conviction in April 2023 saw Aquilina handed a one-year jail term, suspended for four years, a €1,200 fine, and a three-year driving dis- qualification. Both the prose- cution and defence appealed, resulting in the sentence be- ing annulled and the case sent back for re-sentencing. On re-sentencing, Aquilina was jailed for nine months, banned from driving for three years, and ordered to pay €1,687 in court costs. Howev- er, the sentence was again ap- pealed. The Court of Criminal Ap- peal, presided over by Madam Justice Consuelo Scerri Herre- ra found that although Aquili- na had been given time to re- consider his guilty plea, he had not been solemnly and for- mally warned of the legal con- sequences of entering it. The judgment was subsequently annulled. During Tuesday's hearing, Magistrate Victor Axiak ab- stained from hearing the case. Nonetheless, he expressed concerns that certain proce- dural steps had been initiated ex officio by the court itself, rather than by the parties. Ax- iak observed that this could have implications for second- ary victimisation, as the case now needs to be reheard. WWW.MALTATODAY.COM.MT WEDNESDAY EDITION €1.00 WEDNESDAY • 19 NOVEMBER 2025 • ISSUE 967 • PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY CONTINTUES PAGE 3 Case officer recommends approval despite ERA objections A case officer is recommend- ing approval of plans for the construction of an old people's home instead of a vacant Bus- kett hotel. The planning application seeks permission to demolish the va- cant Buskett Forest Aparthotel, which dates back to the 1970s. It will be replaced by a 54-room old people's home over three storeys that will host 100 resi- dents. Magistrate warns retrial of reckless driver could prolong victim's ordeal Victim Moira Cauchi with her husband Peter before the accident in 2016 CONTINUES PAGE 2 Moira Cauchi was left severely disabled after being mowed down by a speeding car driven by Renald Aquilina. Now, a magistrate warns that re- trying Aquilina for a third time risks exposing the victim to secondary victimisation MAYA GALEA mgalea@mediatoday.com.mt JAMES DEBONO jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt BUSKETT HOME