The compilation of evidence against the three men accused of murdering journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia continued this morning.
The three accused, George Degiorgio, his brother Alfred Degiorgio and Vince Muscat were back in court.
During the last sitting on Tuesday 17 July, the prosecution had nine witnesses summoned to testify today, however, none were able to make it. The witnesses were summoned to testify today.
10.20 The hearing has now ended, with the next one scheduled for September 3.
10:14 The cause of death was established as blast injury. They handed a copy of their report to the court.
10:12 Profs Marie Therese Camilleri Podesta and Dr Ali Safraz take the stand. They had carried out the autopsy on the body.
10:09 A search was also carried out at a farmhouse in Mosta for components of an Improvised explosive devices (IED) but nothing was found.
10:08 The sixth witness of the day takes the stand. Joseph Bondin, an AFM soldier testified that he and his EOD colleagues had gone to the scene to ensure the area was safe and that there was no secondary devices. A search was carried out to this end.
10:06 After Buttigieg, it was Inspector Alexander Miruzzi’s turn to testify, who confirmed previous sentences handed to Vince Muscat and exhibited copies of them. Defence lawyer Martin Fenech is asking for the removal of this sentence from the acts because it was over ten years old. The court refused the request as the valuation of whether a sentence is admissible or not for the purposes of recidivism should happen at the stage of the final sentence.
10:03 Mario Buttigieg, a court expert, was appointed to check the rental history of Caruana Galizia's car - a white Peugeot 108. He exhibited his report. No questions were asked to this witness.
10:00 Caruana Galizia was identified from DNA analysis as the body was burnt beyond recognition, he said.
09:59 Scerri exhibited his report. He said the cause of death was blast injury and burns. "In the road there was human tissue strewn around."
09:58 Dr Mario Scerri takes the stand. Scerri was appointed by magistrate Anthony Vella.
09:57 Balzan said that the RIU practice is to take photographs of the scene as soon as they arrive just in case anything is moved.
09:57 Four police officers wearing body armour are seated directly behind the three men accused of Caruana Galizia's murder.
09:56 PC Reuben Balzan from the RIU is now testifying, exhibiting a photograph he took of the scene.
09:48 Christopher Portelli from NSIS takes the stand to exhibit 112 emergency calls related to the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia. "The calls are from passers-by who heard the explosion."
09:46 The accused and their respective lawyers are all in the court room and are ready to start.
The accused
George Degiorgio 55, unemployed, lives in St Paul's Bay, known as Ic-Ciniz
Alfred Degiorgio, 53, unemployed lives in St Paul's Bay, known as il-Fulu
Vincent Muscat, 55, unemployed lives in Msida, known as il-Kohhu
The courtroom players
Magistrate Claire Stafrace Zammit is presiding
Inspectors Keith Arnaud and Kurt Zahra are prosecuting
Deputy attorney general Philip Galea Farrugia is assiting the prosecution
Martin Fenech is appearing for Vince Muscat
William Cuschieri and Martha Mifsud are appearing for Alfred Degiorgio
Josette Sultana is appearing for George Degiorgio
Therese Comodini Cachia and Jason Azzopardi are appearing parte civile for the Caruana Galizia family