Lieutenant Mangion was testifying in the case against Hammadi Ben Abdallah Rumdani, a Tunisian illegal immigrant who is being accused of killing a fellow immigrant, Mohsen Ben Khediri Ben Ali, on the night of 30 August.

The officer explained that he discovered the murder at around 12.45am on Tuesday morning. “As I was making the rounds of the rooms, I heard a commotion. The detainees were shouting and swearing at each other,” he said.

He explained that he and bombadier Leli Caruana managed to gather the people on one side of the room and crossed to the other side. That is when Mr Mangion said he saw the accused sitting with the blood-covered pipe in his hand.

“I took the metal pipe from his hands and he offered no resistance, as someone went to get handcuffs,” continued lieutenant Mangion.

Prosecuting inspector Walter Spiteri also testified at yesterday’s sitting. He explained that the pipe used in the murder was part of the metal bed, and not the leg as had been previously reported.

“The victim had various head injuries and there was blood on the wall and on the bed,” said inspector Spiteri. When he arrived on site, the accused had already been arrested and an investigation was launched.

The immigrants who were in the room the night of the crime are expected to testify in court today.

Magistrate Saviour Demicoli presided over the court while inspectors Walter Spiteri and Christopher Pullicino prosecuted. Dr Anthony Cutajar was appointed as legal aide for the accused.