The compilation of evidence against Erin Tanti, who is charged with the murder of 15-year-old Lisa Marie Zahra, continued this morning.
The Malta Independent updated as proceedings went along.
12:12pm Proceedings have ended, with the case now being heard on the 28 April.
12:11pm Two more members of the Police also testified, telling the Court about the chain of events after the two were reported as missing.
11:56am The lawyer, Michael Sciriha, asked if it is normal for a suspect who wants to leave the country to go and intentionally break his ribs.
11:54am Inspector Mifsud took no notes when he was questioning Tanti in ITU. The defence lawyer is really ripping into him now. The Inspector said that he read the notes compiled by his colleague Inspector Arnaud to confirm the version of events.
11:47am The defence lawyer has got Inspector Mifsud to admit that he "forgot" to say that he heard Tanti deny killling Zahra.
He said that it was his colleague Inspector Arnaud who was leading the questoning.
11:44am The Inspector said that the words ‘Easy Jet’ struck him when he was searching Zahra’s emails. Two e-tickets were found in an email from Tanti’s mother addressed to Zahra.
11:42am The Inspector is unable to say how long he spent checking Zahra’s computer, and is repeatedly saying that he does not really know how long the search took. The defence lawyer is repeatedly given an approximation but the Inspector is refusing to do so.
“I did not continually check the time on the basis that I would be interrogated about it in Court.”
11:39am The Inspector said that he did not take any notes when talking to Tanti's mother, as his prime concern at the time was finding the missin persons.
11:36am The defence lawyer is pointing out certain inconsistencies in the testimony of the various other Inspectors. The Inspector currently testifying angrily pointed out that he is here under oath and simply giving his version of events.
11:30am The Inspector said that once Tanti's passport was found to be missing, they immediately suspected that he might have left the country before the two were eventually found at Dingli cliffs.
11:30am A ‘love letter’ from a Danish girl was found in Tanti’s car.
11:25am Tanti categorically stated that he never had a sexual relationship with Zahra, but the evidence points otherwise the Inspector said, particularly because Tanti told his mother that he does not want to be remembered as a paedophile.
11:22am Josric Mifsud, the Inspector currently testifiying said that Tanti told them that he loved Lisa Maria and the passport and cash were in his car because he was ready to “call it quits” and end their relationship.
This contrasts with the version of events given by another Inspector, Keith Arnaud, who said that Tanti told them the passport and cash were there just in case he did not go through with the suicide attempt.
11:20am The Police backed off from their questioning in ITU, and only spoke to him when he was immediately arrested on his release from Mount Carmel.
11:19am Zahra was found to have multiple dislocated joints and a fractured skull.
11:16am Tanti told the Police that after consuming the aspirin and whisky, Zahra wanted to jump there and then. Tanti said that Zahra called him a 'pussy,' counted to three and jumped.
11:15am Questioned in the ITU, Tanti told the Police that the aspirin was purchased from a pharmacy in Valletta and the whisky was a left-over birthday present.
11:10am The search of Tanti's car yielded an envelope with four cheques and an envelope containing €2,400. Spent packets of aspirin were also found, as well as two mobile phones and an open bottle of whisky.
11:07am Cannabis and a blood-stained towel were among the items found in a search of Zahra's room, as well as a book of poems.
11:04am It was Tanti's business partner who alerted the Police to the missing money that belonged to his and Tanti's business.
11:02am The last contact that Tanti had with his mother prior to the tragedy was an out of the blue phone call from her son saying "I love you."
10:58am An inspector has now taken to the stand, recounting what happened when the missing person's report came in. When the report was filed, Zahra's brother told the Police about the note written by his sister saying that she was very unhappy with life.
10:57am The sergeant is saying that he is not sure about the watch, but Tanti was very precise with his timings when it came to the jump and the period of time which elapsed until he was found.
10:55am The defence is saying that Tanti has never worn a watch in his life. He is asking the sergeant if he might have been mistaken about Tanti having worn a watch which survived the fall undamaged.
10:54am The sergeant, Konrad Debattista, who finished off proceedings yesterday is being cross-examined, as the defence would like to clarify a few points. Tanti's lawyer is asking who took his personal belonging on the scene. The sergeant said that he does not know.
10:53am The magistrate is getting impatient now asking what the hold up is. Tanti has just walked in accompanied by two policemen and a nurse.
10:51am The Zahra family have packed into the Court today, with Erin's father cutting a lone figure in the dock. His son has not yet arrived in Court.