A 12-year-old boy gave closed-door testimony on Tuesday morning regarding an alleged assault by his father. The incident took place in March at the abandoned White Rocks complex, where both the boy and his 10-year-old sister were allegedly attacked by their father.

The young girl managed to escape the scene to seek help, alerting a bystander by stating that her father had killed her brother. Responders later discovered the boy barely conscious, bleeding heavily from severe head wounds, and leaning against a low wall.

The children's father, a 49-year-old Italian national whose identity is protected by a court order, has pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder of his two children.

During Tuesday's court proceedings, forensic expert Edward Cherubino confirmed that the accused spoke with a psychiatrist on the day he was taken into custody.

The boy's sister had already given her own testimony behind closed doors during a previous sitting.

The ongoing case is being overseen by Magistrate Franco Agius.

The prosecution is led by Anthony Vella, Kaylie Bonett, and Etienne Savona from the Attorney General's office, with assistance from police inspectors Kurt Zahra Colombo and Christian Xuereb.

The defence is represented by lawyers Giannella De Marco and Charles Mercieca, while lawyers Maxilene Pace and Charmaine Cherett are representing the children's mother.