Deniro Magri, who is accused of fatally shooting a man in Marsa on 12 February, learnt that someone had been killed from the news, a court heard today.
Magri was also expecting his house to be attacked and had taken "precautions".
Mr Magri, 27, from Marsa, is pleading not guilty to killing 25-year-old Sylvester Farrugia in a stolen car in Marsa. His defence counsel are pleading self-defence, arguing he had opened fire after some people tried to set his house door on fire.
During the compilation of evidence, Police Inspector Keith Arnaud, said that Mr Magri had bought a pistol and installed CCTV cameras outside his home after he had been threatened.
The inspector said Mr Magri had told the police that, at about 2.30am, he was at his home with his partner and son. He heard noises outside the front door, and seeing people there, he opened fire. Mr Magri told police he learnt that he had hit someone the following day, from news reports.
Sylvester Farrugia
The inspector said the acussed told the police he then ran downstairs and found a tyre and jerry-can, which he threw away in an open area near December 13 Road. He also threw away his pistol.
Mr Magri did not report the incident to the police, but went to his parents' home where he changed and showered.
Inspector Arnaud said that the jerry-can and tyre were found the following day by the police, but there was no trace of the pistol.
Inspector Arnaud also described how the dead man was seen by a policewoman who was on her way to work at about 5am.
A Toyota Starlet was found in Simpson Street, with a shattered back windscreen and a dead man nearby.
Police officers were later told that there was more shattered glass at Triq l-Għabex some three blocks away.
During questioning there, policemen were told by a resident that he had heard two bangs (shots) at about 2.30am.
The police were directed to nearby St Paul Street, where the accused lived. Between his front door and an outer aluminium gate they found a sack with black tape, smelling of petrol.
The police later managed to identify the murder victim and on searching his garage in Żurrieq, found a sack and black tape very similar to the one found outside Mr Magri's front door.
Lawyers Giannella de Marco, Jean-Luca Caruana Curran, Franco Debono and Marion Camilleri are appearing for the accused.
Dr Jason Azzopardi is appearing for the victim's family.
The case is being heard before Magistrate Aaron Bugeja.