Erin Tanti, the 23-year-old teacher who was reported missing together with a 15-year-old student, Lisa Marie Zahra, who was found dead at the bottom of Dingli cliffs last month, has been charged with murdering the girl and assisting in her suicide. He is also accused of defiling her when she was in his care as a teacher, participating in sexual acts with her when she was a vulnerable person, possessing indecent pictures of her and abusing his position.

Tanti pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The Zahra family is assisted by lawyers Joe Giglio, Gianella de Marco, Reuben Farrugia and Stephen Tonna Lowell.

Dr Michael Sciriha and Dr Lucio Sciriha are Mr Tanti's lawyers.

The defence wants psychiatrist, pathologist and other medical experts to testify as soon as possible. No bail has been requested, but the defence insisted that Tanti is kept at Mount Carmel Hospital.

The lawyers of the Zahra family argued that Tanti has already received treatment at the hospital and should be kept at the Corradino Correctional Facility. They requested that Tanti is seen by a different psychiatrist, while the defence is arguing that the accused has a right to be seen by a doctor of his choice.

The court ruled that the accused is kept at Corradino and the best course of action for his treatment is to be decided from there.

After his rescue, Tanti was kept at Mount Carmel Hospital for several days. He was released on 1 April, ceritifed to be fit for interrogation and was immediately arrested.

Tanti entered the courtroom escorted by two policemen and accompanied by his parents.

Tanti and Zahra were reported missing on 18 March and were found a day later. Tanti was injured in the incident. 

The arraignment was initially to take place Wednesday but the police later said that investigations had not been concluded. The arraignment was put forward to today.

He is being arraigned before Magistrate Doreen Clarke.

Members of the Zahra family, including the girl's father Tony, are in the courtroom for the sitting.