Driver in Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq crash was six times over alcohol limit, court told
Woman pleads with court for 'another chance' but is denied bail
A woman involved in a collision that left a motorcyclist critically injured on Sunday was six times over the legal alcohol limit at the time.
Yoana Valentinova Gatt, a 44-year-old Bulgarian national living in St Paul’s Bay, was arraigned on Monday afternoon in connection with the Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq crash.
Valentinova Gatt hit the motorcycle from the rear, a police inspector told a court on Monday, seriously injuring its driver, a 53-year-old Belgian national living in Gżira.
The accused was arraigned on Monday and charged with causing grievous bodily harm through negligence, reckless driving, damaging the victim’s motorcycle, driving under the influence and drink driving.
Police inspector Nathan Bugeja explained that police received reports of the crash at about 3:30pm.
The woman was subjected to a breathalyser test which revealed that she was six times over the legal limit, with the test marking 124.9 μg/100ml (microgrammes of alcohol per 100ml breath), Bugeja explained.
Currently, laws set a limit of 22 μg/100ml for ordinary drivers when breathalysed. Legal limits for alcohol levels in blood or urine differ.
The accused was arrested and taken in for questioning.
Sources said bystanders at the crash scene lifted the accused's car to help extract the motorcyclist.
A previous drink-driving conviction
The police inspector also told the court that Valentinova Gatt had previously been stripped of her driving licence in her home country Bulgaria after she failed a breathalyser test there in 2014.
Her current licence is valid, the inspector added.
The accused denied the charges and her legal aid lawyer Nadya Fiott requested bail.
The prosecution objected, saying she could tamper with evidence and highlighting the seriousness of the offence.
Fiott countered by arguing that her client had a young daughter and risked losing her job if she was denied bail.
“She has already told me that she is ready to financially help in whatever is needed,” Fiott concluded.
The sitting was briefly suspended.
Woman pleads: 'Give me another chance'
After the magistrate re-entered the courtroom, Valentinova Gatt pleaded directly to the court.
“I am a single mother. My mother was here visiting us. It’s not something I wished to happen. Give me another chance, please! I need to raise my daughter. I will do whatever is needed,” the woman said before bursting into tears.
The court denied the woman bail, deeming the request “premature” in view of the seriousness of the case.
Magistrate Joseph Gatt presided. Police inspector Nathan Bugeja prosecuted. Legal aid lawyer Nadya Fiott appeared for the accused.