Survivor describes horrific injuries he suffered after being hit by supercar
PAQPAQLI CRASH
A court has heard a survivor give an intense account of the incident which marred the Paqpaqli għallIstrina car show in October 2015.
Gustav Cauchi, one of the spectators injured when a Porsche Spyder careened into bystanders, took the stand in the compilation of evidence against the 13 people charged in connection with the ill-fated show.
The 13-member core organising committee for Paqpaqli għall- Istrina – Paul Bailey, Tonio Darmanin, Tonio Cini, Agostino Degiorgio, Jonathan Tonna, Kevin Perry, Melvin Haber, Ian Keith Cilia Pisani, Jonathan Bruno, Julian Mannara, Christopher Sultana, David Bugeja and Brian Gatt – are accused of involuntarily causing grievous bodily harm, as well damage to various motor vehicles, through imprudence, carelessness and non-observance of regulations.
Cauchi, a senior chemical analyst, recalled in court yesterday how his visit to the annual car show ended with him suffering life-threatening injuries and an ongoing ordeal, after Paul Bailey’s supercar skidded into a crowd of spectators.
The sports cars enthusiast told the court how after taking photos of the static display, he had been making his way back along the track, stopping halfway to chat with a friend, when the accident took place.
He had just photographed Bailey’s Porsche when he heard squealing brakes and tyres screeching, spotting as he turned, the car’s rear right wheel touch the grass on the side of the track.
Sensing that the driver was about to lose control, Cauchi had instinctively tried to run in the opposite direction, but had only managed a few steps when the Porsche caught up with him and ran him over, before coming to rest a short distance away.
He felt a sudden burst of pain on his right side and saw that his left leg was badly broken. His arms were numb, the witness explained, pausing for a few moments to regain his composure.
He was rushed to Mater Dei Hospital, where he was found to be in critical condition, with multiple leg fractures, lacerations on his kidney and liver and abrasions on his back from being dragged along the ground by the Porsche.
Cauchi’s recovery was slow, and it was three months before he could walk again without crutches, he said, a metal pin having been surgically implanted along his ankle to his knee.
Another victim, Charlot Farrugia, also gave his testimony yesterday. He told Magistrate Aaron Bugeja how he had been watching the static display for around 10 minutes when he heard the screeching of brakes. He had just glimpsed the Porsche heading in his direction when it knocked him out.
Farrugia, a heavy vehicle driver, regained consciousness in hospital, where he discovered that his left foot had been fractured. Although he returned to work some three months later, the man said he could no longer go to the gym or take a daily jog as a result of the injury he suffered.
Earlier on in yesterday’s sitting, Major John Borg, a former aidede-camp, gave a detailed account of the planning and organisation that went into the Paqpaqli għallIstrina event between 2010 and 2013, under the presidency of George Abela.
He confirmed what had already been said in open court last Thursday by former President Abela himself – that the core organising committee used to meet regularly at San Anton on a fortnightly basis between mid-August and the date of the event.
Major Borg explained how tasks were allocated to different members according to their area of specialisation and how details regarding different concerns of various stakeholders used to be discussed at such meetings.
Safety had always been part of the agenda, he said, adding that the committee would even hold an on-site inspection exercise in Ħal Far before the actual event.
Besides committee meetings, one-on-one discussions were conducted as the need arose, with committee chairman Mark Mallia acting as overall coordinator, added the officer.
Borg told the magistrate that following Abela’s presidency, he had served for some four months as aide-de-camp to the current president before resuming his post with the AFM.
But before returning to his unit, he had recommended – during a meeting with President Coleiro Preca and her team on the MCCF – Mark Mallia, Tonio Darmanin and Duncan Barbaro Sant on the core committee as being essential for the continuation of the annual event.
“I wanted those three players to be roped in,” Mr Borg told the court, concluding that without them, there was little hope for the event’s continued success.
Police Inspectors Josric Mifsud, Silvio Magro and Hubert Cini are prosecuting.
Lawyers Giannella DeMarco and Stephen Tonna Lowell are counsel to Paul Bailey.
Lawyer Joe Giglio is counsel to Tonio Darmanin. Lawyer Stefano Filletti is counsel to Brian Gatt and Julian Mannara.
Lawyer Arthur Azzopardi is defence counsel for Ian Cilia Pisani, Kevin Perry and Chris Sultana. Other members of the Paqpaqli team are being assisted by lawyers Michael Sciriha, Raphael Fenech Adami and Albert Zerafa.
Lawyers Franco Debono, Amadeus Cachia, Roberto Montalto, Michael Grech, Shazoo Ghaznavi, Alessia Zammit Mackeon and Reuben Farrugia are among the lawyers appearing parte civile for the victims.