The mother of Margaret Mifsud, who was killed three years ago, testified in court that when she was informed that her daughter had been found dead in Bahar ic-Caghaq, she immediately knew that it was El-Gadi who had killed her since he had tried to kill her another time.

An emotional Thereza Mifsud testified in a trial by jury about what her daughter had gone through a month or so before she was found dead in her car on 19 April, 2012.

Nizar El-Gadi – Dr Mifsud’s former husband - is charged with the murder. Dr Mifsud had been found dead in her car in Bahar ic-Caghaq on 19 April, 2012. Experts said that the victim, who worked as a lawyer, died of asphyxia after her killer applied heavy pressure to her chest.

Referring to the 24 March, 2012 strangling incident, she said: “I had called my daughter since she was not home and she told me she was at the police station in Birkirkara. She said she would soon return home.

“When she returned home she told me that El-Gadi ordered her to stay on her knees on the sofa and to choose between her and the kids. He then put a string round her neck.

“She told me that she left everything in the hands of God and she asked for God’s forgiveness for any past sins.

“But El-Gadi stopped short of killing her and left the room,” Mrs Mifsud said, recounting what her daughter had told her. She said that her daughter had a mark on her neck.

Pathology experts Dr Ali Safraz and Prof. Marie-Therese Camilleri testified that the murder victim had a bruise in her lungs which is compatible to someone having exerted heavy pressure to her chest. The two said that she suffered an internal haemorage.

Judge Antonio Mizzi is presiding over the case. Lawyer Martin Testaferata Moroni Viani is defending the accused while Drs Kathleen Grima and Arthur Azzopardi are appearingparte civile for the Mifsud family. Police Inspector Keith Arnaud is lead investigator in the case. Dr Philip Galea Farrugia who is assistant attorney general and Dr Gianella Busuttil are prosecuting.