In fact, the autopsy confirmed she died as a result of one of 49 stab wounds, he said.

The inspector and other witnesses were called to the stand to give details on the murder of Ms Scicluna, 32, who was stabbed to death in her San Gwann apartment on 3 May.

At yesterday’s sitting, held under unusually tight security, inspector Tonna said that after the accused had gone to the San Gwann police station covered in blood, police found Ms Scicluna lying in a pool of blood in her apartment.

The door of the flat had been shot at five times and was open, he said, and the victim was found on the floor between the refrigerator and a cupboard. Police found an old .38 calibre revolver and the disarray found in the flat showed evidence of a fight, continued Mr Tonna. A 12-inch blade was also lifted from the site, he said.

The inspector spoke to several witnesses and said the victim’s seven-year-old daughter told him she heard banging on the door and said, “I saw daddy coming in with a gun and then he started to hit mummy”.

Two neighbours also heard banging and screaming and told the inspector they had seen Schembri stab Ms Scicluna. One of the neighbours called an ambulance and the police, continued inspector Tonna.

The inspector told the court everything Schembri had told him during his interrogation.

The accused had said that he had known the victim for 10 years and Ms Scicluna’s family had been interfering in their relationship. The accused claimed he became aggressive because he felt he was not esteemed.

Schembri told inspector Tonna that he had called Ms Scicluna several days before the incident because he needed his clothes from her apartment. When she did not answer, Schembri said he felt ignored and decided he would get his clothes back by all means possible.

The accused said that as he entered the apartment, Ms Scicluna tried to attack him with an object. He took it from her hand and started hitting her with it. Inspector Tonna said that Schembri avoided any questions related to the weapon and claimed he had not known what it was.

When the inspector asked him why he attacked his former partner, the accused said, “although she is small in stature, you never know what she might be capable of”.

The couple often had had heated arguments that sometimes landed Ms Scicluna in hospital, continued Inspector Tonna. Finally, “the bubble burst”, he said the accused told him.

Prosecuting inspector Chris Pullicino also testified and said that apart from the 49 stab wounds, the autopsy also showed Ms Scicluna’s body had been bruised. He was present at the interrogations Mr Tonna spoke of and reported that the accused said he had broken into the flat that evening to retrieve a pair of Lm100 leather trousers.

Police officer Joan Bonello, who was on duty at the San Gwann police station the night of 3 May, said at yesterday’s sitting that when the accused came to the station, with his arms and face covered in blood, he calmly said he had had a fight with his partner and done something he should not have done.

Schembri said he was afraid of the victim’s father, a man nicknamed Tal-Mexico, and asked to be held at the station, said Ms Bonello.

Presiding magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera ordered the case to be deferred to later this month for more evidence to be heard. Dr Edward Gatt appeared for the accused.