At this week's council meeting, Marratxi town hall agreed to forward an institutional declaration to the national government which calls for an increase in the maximum sentence for a driver who causes a fatality while under the influence of drink or drugs or both.
The maximum sentence is currently four years. The town hall is wanting this raised to at least nine years. A raising of the tariff is a matter that is being considered by Congress and the Senate, but there has as yet been no move forward.
There was unanimous approval for the declaration among the parties represented at the town hall, and this came about as a response to the death of 15-year-old Paula Fornés. She was from Marratxi and was knocked down and killed by a drunk driver in Sa Rapita on the night of Sant Joan in June.
The driver, 44-year-old Renata G., is currently out on bail of 12,000 euros, which has drawn condemnation from the family of Paula Fornés. The family's lawyer had appealed to the Provincial Court for the bail to be increased to 50,000 euros and for Renata G. to be returned to prison if she were unable to raise this. This appeal was turned down earlier this week. Renata G. initially spent eleven days on remand before the bail was paid.
In another fatality case, the 48-year-old driver who was responsible for the death of British cyclist Bryan Stout in Puerto Alcudia in April last year was handed a two year and nine month sentence on Tuesday. He was also disqualified from driving for five years. He had been under the influence of drink and drugs.