A number of statements made to the police by a Syrian man accused of killing a fellow-national last Sunday night were presented in court yesterday in the first sitting of the compilation of evidence against him.

Police Inspector Chris Pullicino, who investigated the case, told magistrate Jacqueline Padovani that the accused, 25-year-old tile-layer Ibrahim Alhmou, had made a number of statements during his several hours of interrogation about the alleged crime. The inspector did not give details of what the accused said in his statements.

Twenty-nine-year-old Ismail Ebdou Abod was found dead on the rocks in Selmun on Monday morning. He was spotted by two tourists who happened to be walking there shortly after 10.30am.

During the first sitting of the compilation of evidence against Mr Alhmou, Inspector Pullicino requested the court to appoint an expert to analyse the car belonging to Mr Abod and draw up a report on the damage it had sustained. One of the charges against Mr Alhmou is damaging Mr Abod’s car.

Magistrate Padovani agreed to this request and appointed a court expert to carry out this survey.

During the arraignment on Tuesday evening, Mr Alhmou denied murdering his fellow-national after repeatedly hitting him with a hard object. He was refused bail and was remanded in custody. At the arraignment, the court heard that the accused had been deported from Malta in 2003 but had somehow managed to get back into the country.

Inspector Pullicino is expected to testify in detail when the case continues on 16 August.

Inspector Pullicino is prosecuting while Dr Joseph Giglio is appearing for the accused.