Updated: Lawyer acquitted of hit-and-run charges

Lawyer Jan-Karl Farrugia was this morning acquitted of having allegedly crashed with his BMW into three parked cars but failed to stop. The incident happened in Qui-Si-Sana last September. An unknown witness had left a note on the windscreen of one of the damaged cars with the vehicle number of Dr Farrugia's car. A witness had also reported the case at Sliema police station. Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera acquitted Dr Farrugia after finding no evidence of court summons being issued to four witnesses for the prosecution, including two policemen. The court heard Peter Axisa, the brother of one of the car owners, now deceased. He said he had found the note on the windscreen and reported the matter at Sliema police station. But he did not witness the crash himself and did not know who had written the note. The case had been number 33 on the court list but was among the first to be heard this morning. Sources said the police intend to appeal.