Escape to Freedom (Nearly)

When Tristan Hayes, a British born citizen, went to work on the tiny Mediterranean Island of Malta, he could not have expected to end up serving 3 years in Jail! This is his story. It carries a message for all of us who travel frequently or otherwise to distant lands!

As a young photographer Tristan found work on this yacht owners paradise photographing and working on the multitude of beautiful boats that harbor here.

He met his fiancé Ramona here and they had a beautiful daughter who they named Ricarda. That was just over 5 years ago. For the last three of those years Tristan has resided in a Maltese prison for a simple act of road rage that anywhere else would have meant a severe reprimand or at the most 3 months detention. His intended bride Ramona remains in England to care for their daughter. Had it not been for the diligence of a good attorney Tristan would have faced a further year; as it is he will be released in three months having completed a three-year sentence.

The facts of the case are these.

One Sunday afternoon Tristan, his pregnant fiancé, his intended grand-mother-in -law were traveling along one of Malta's coast roads returning from a day at the beach. On looking in his rear mirror Tristan saw a car rapidly approaching and eventually trying to overtake him on the narrow road. Finally the car with three elderly occupants forced its way past Tristan scraping his car in the process. Tristan and the offending car immediately stopped and a fight ensued between the driver of the other car and Tristan. I do not intend to go into all the complicated details of both sides of the story, suffice to say Tristan got the better of the onslaught and the other driver ended up in hospital. Tristan was charged with grievous bodily harm and subsequently arrested.

For almost two years Tristan remained on bail awaiting a trial that was repeatedly postponed by the prosecution. During this time with out a passport and confined the island he could not get any work. Finally in desperation with the help of his father, an unidentified British official and some close friends, he set sail for Italy and with his partner and their newly born daughter made their way back to his home in England.

A further year went by, when one evening a knock at their door revealed two British police officers with an extradition warrant requiring Tristan to return to Malta to stand trial. The legal battle continued until at last Tristan was finally sentenced to 4 years as I mentioned earlier. Thousands of dollars (British Pounds) and almost three years of legal wrangling, his appeal was finally heard and his release is scheduled for Oct. 2010.

All over a simple motoring incident that almost any of us who have driven on overseas highways could have experienced. In this writers experience the local participant in any legal dispute will almost always get the benefit of the doubt over a foreign national - if doubt exists.

Take heed, beware and drive safely.

Dr. Peter J. Shield PhD. ARP (http://pjshield.com )