Charges issued almost a year after motorcyclist killed in crash

Updated 4.53pm

A 22-year-old man is facing involuntary homicide charges over the death of Tenjo Kosev, a 27-year-old motorcyclist who was killed in a crash last July.

The police confirmed yesterday that the magisterial inquiry into Kosev’s death was concluded and that criminal proceedings had been initiated.

“The magisterial inquiry was concluded a few days ago. Charges for involuntary homicide and dangerous driving, among others, have since been issued against a 22-year-old male from St Paul’s Bay,” the police told Times of Malta.

The first sitting was originally scheduled for October 5 but, on Friday afternoon, the victim's family were informed that the sitting has been brought forward to June 15. The case will be heard by Magistrate Donatella Frendo Dimech. She is the third magistrate to find the case on her desk.

The inquiry was initially led by Magistrate Ian Farrugia before being assigned to Magistrate Franco Agius, after Farrugia resigned.

Kosev was riding home to Paola after a gym session when he was involved in a collision with a BMW 1 Series on July 26 last year. In a statement issued just hours after the crash, the police said initial investigations indicated that the BMW was being driven by a 22-year-old man from St Paul’s Bay.

Kosev’s mother, Didi Krasteva, was informed of the developments yesterday after months of pushing for answers about the case.

In her first reaction to Times of Malta, she said: “I was beginning to give up and thinking that nothing was going to happen after waiting for so long. But, finally, I feel at least a bit of relief. I don’t want to get too excited, because we still have to see how everything will go, but I was just so happy to see something happen today.”

I was beginning to give up and thinking that nothing was going to happen after waiting for so long. But, finally, I feel at least a bit of relief- Tenjo Kosev's mother

Since her son’s death, Krasteva has campaigned for legal changes and for Kosev, whom she lovingly called Teji, not to be forgotten. She also launched a parliamentary petition calling for a new offence to be introduced: Causing death or grievous bodily harm through serious negligence or dangerous driving.

Krasteva wants the offence to carry a mandatory minimum prison sentence and to remove the court’s discretion to impose suspended sentences.

The petition gathered more than 1,200 signatures, but Krasteva said the process was derailed when parliament was dissolved because of the election. However, she said this had not discouraged her from continuing her campaign.

“I am not in any way going to stop fighting. They must amend the law for the protection of the people and to send a strong message to make the right decisions,” said Krasteva.

Kosev was born in Bulgaria and moved to Malta as a child. He had Maltese-Bulgarian citizenship. He worked as a videographer and enjoyed spending time on his computer, riding his motorbike with friends and going to the gym.