The compilation of evidence against the three men accused of the murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia continued this morning, with optimised copies of audio recordings made by middleman Melvin Theuma being exhibited.

Court expert Keith Cutajar took the stand before magistrate Claire Stafrace Zammit, explaining that on 12 June he had been ordered to make extra copies of recordings he had exhibited before and optimise the audio files he had exhibited.

The cleaned up audio eliminated background noise using software, he said. 133 recordings were optimised. The others did not require optimisation.

Lawyer Jason Azzopardi asked whether the quality of the recordings had improved and words were clearer and more had emerged than the previously exhibited evidence. “Yes,” Cutajar said.

The court decreed that the same recordings can be exhibited for the proceedings against Yorgen Fenech on Monday, instead of being re-done, as the adjustments were made manually and would not create the same result if repeated.

Three transcribers were appointed and ordered to divide the workload between themselves.

The case will continue on 25 June.

Lawyers Marc Sant and William Cuschieri are defence counsel to the accused men. Deputy Attorney General Philip Galea Farrugia and police inspector Keith Arnaud prosecuted. Lawyer Jason Azzopardi appeared parte civile.