A magistrate yesterday ordered the release from prison of Anthony Taliana, 21 of Hamrun who stands charged with the involuntary homicide of cyclist Cliff Micallef, but ordered that he remains under house arrest.
Anthony Taliana yesterday appeared before Magistrate Audrey Demicoli in handcuffs for his first sitting, during which prosecutors produced a young British girl who was a passenger with Anthony Taliana when he allegedly ran over and killed the known cyclist on July 30 and fled the scene.
Taliana stands charged with reckless driving under the influence of alcohol.
17-year-old Natasha Phefney testified that she had had been with Anthony Taliana in Paceville and admitted that the accused had taken a couple of drinks, but was able to walk and get to his car.
She said that she panicked as soon as Taliana hit the cyclist in the early hours of July 30 as soon as they took the bend on the Coast Road leading to Bahar ic-Caghaq, while Taliana was in clear shock. However she also confirmed that the accused did not call for help and fled the scene of the accident.
A decision by Magistrate Demicoli to release the accused from preventative custody was taken after negotiations between the defense counsel and the prosecution in court.
The magistrate ordered Taliana to remain under house arrest, to deposit €1,500 with the court registrar and to file a personal guarantee of an additional €5,000.
Father of three Cliff Micallef was killed on the spot, and the police managed to get to the accused in a few hours after the impact left the car’s number plate and bumper by the road side.
The cyclist was training for the LifeCycle challenge
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