Man Jailed Two Years Over Father's Day Crash That Injured Infant Son
A 37-year-old man has been jailed for two years after a crash on Father's Day 2020 left his 21-month-old son with grievous injuries, with the court rendering operative a suspended sentence he had previously received [1].
Marlon Zarb was driving without a valid licence when he lost control of his SUV near the junction between Triq il-Kunsill tal-Ewropa and Vjal l-Avjazzjoni in Luqa at around 10.30am [1]. The vehicle crashed into a nearby barrier, leaving his young son – who had joined his father for the day – seriously injured. Zarb himself emerged unhurt from the incident [1].
Police charged Zarb with eight offences, including grievous bodily harm, driving negligently, driving dangerously, driving recklessly, driving without a licence, driving without insurance, keeping a car on the road without proper documentation, and committing a crime during the operative term of a suspended sentence [1].
Defence Centred on Medical Claim
In his testimony before Magistrate Yana Micallef Stafrace, Zarb claimed he had just purchased the vehicle and was taking it for a trial run when the incident occurred [1]. He insisted the crash happened because he fainted due to low blood sugar. "In this case I had no drugs and did not fight, I just fainted, as the doctors should have checked, and hit the barriers there," he said [1].
The boy's mother chose not to testify, though she confirmed she was no longer in a relationship with Zarb and that he had taken their son for Father's Day [1].
Court Rejects Defence, Finds Guilt on Most Counts
Magistrate Micallef Stafrace largely rejected Zarb's defence, though she did acquit him of charges of driving recklessly and dangerously [1]. She also cleared him on the count of driving without insurance, as that charge was time-barred [1].
However, the magistrate found him guilty on five charges: grievous bodily harm, driving negligently, driving without a licence, keeping a car on the road without licence or insurance, and most significantly, committing a crime during the operative term of a suspended sentence [1].
"This only confirmed that Zarb needed to be more careful whilst driving," the magistrate noted in relation to his low blood sugar explanation [1].
In addition to the two-year custodial sentence now rendered operative, Zarb was fined €600 and had six penalty points added to his driving licence [1].
Wider Legal Proceedings
Zarb is currently undergoing separate criminal proceedings for attempted murder and has prior convictions for driving without a licence [1]. In 2021, he was charged with the alleged stabbing of a man in Marsa [1].