Nizar El Gadi, who last month was found guilty of murdering his ex-wife (Margaret Mifsud), appeared in court today and was accused of threatening a police inspector and making threatening gestures at his wife's mother.

El Gadi, 36, was fund guilty of murdering the mother of his two children in April 2012. She was found, dead, in her car in Bahar Ic-Caghaq. 

Inspector Keith Arnaud, who led investigations during the murder trial, testified before Magistrate Joe Mifsud. He said that the victim’s mother said something along the lines as to whether the accused was content now that he was going to stay in Malta, after the accused was found guilty in the courtroom. In response, he said, El Gadi gestured as if shooting the family. He then turned to the inspector, and drew his thumb across his neck and said “you’re next”, the inspector told the court.

Defence lawyer Dr Martin Testaferrata Moroni Viani asked the inspector whether the comments made by the mother were provocative, to which he said that the man murdered the woman’s daughter.

As for the threat against him, he said that the context of homicide, saying ‘you’re next’ with such a gesture can safely be seen as a threat.

In response to questions made by Dr Kathleen Grima, representing the family, the inspector said that this was not the first time El Gadi had threatened him or the family.

A number of witnesses appeared, including lawyers who were in the court room at the time.

The victim’s mother, Tessie Mifsud, said that on the day of his conviction, she told him “your wish is now fulfilled”. She said she knew he took her daughter in order to stay in Malta. “He then gestured a revolver using his thumb and index finger at my family”.

She said that at the time, she was happy that her daughter’s killer would never be let out of prison. She told the court that he tricked Margaret from day one, and “would tell me that he wanted to marry a maltese girl to stay here”.

Dr Vincienne Vella from the Office of the Attorney General was in the courtroom at the time of the incident, and confirmed that the gun gesture was made by El Gadi.

She said El Gadi was seated, looked at the inspector with the gestured gun, and slit his thumb across his neck saying you’re next. “As he was leaving the court room, he blew the inspector a kiss”.

El Gadi is also appealing the murder decision.

The case continues in January.