The jury trial of former soldier Lorin Scicluna continues on Tuesday, after jurors were shown police footage of the accused retracing a route linked to the night Lassane Cisse was killed.

Scicluna, 29, denies nine charges, including murdering Cisse, a 42-year-old father of two from the Ivory Coast, on 6 April 2019. He is also accused of attempting to murder Ibrahim Bah and Mohammed Jallow during the same shooting, and May Malimi in a separate incident. The prosecution alleges that the killing was racially motivated.

12:42 The interrogation becomes increasingly heated, with investigators raising their voices as they continue challenging Scicluna's account.

"You spent all that time modifying your car when you could have gone straight to the police and told them what happened," the investigator tells him. "Do you know why you didn't do that? Because the story you've given us doesn't exist."

The investigator is then heard confronting Scicluna about the modifications to his vehicle, including the tape and registration plates.

"You went through all this trouble with the tape and the number plates. You're making things worse for yourself," he warns.

"You know you're going to get caught, and you keep lying. You're inventing things. That's what you're doing," the investigator continues.

12:28 The investigator questions Scicluna about whether he discussed the incident with anyone else.

Scicluna says no.

He tells investigators that he would feel guilty if the man to whom he lent his vehicle, used it to commit a crime.

Scicluna is then questioned about Francesco Fenech's possible involvement.

"Did you give the car to Francesco?" he asks. 

"There are cameras," he tells the investigator. "Check them."

The investigator reminds Scicluna of the importance of his statements, stressing that everything he tells police matters.

"What will emerge is that this story isn't real, because it never happened," the investigator tells him.

Scicluna smiles.

12:22 In the police interrogation video, accused Lorin Scicluna refers to paying the vehicle's licence on 15 April and mentions further expenses, including an estimated €800 for work involving silicone.

Scicluna tells investigators that he received around €1,500 for lending his vehicle to the man and that the man always pays him in cash.

"Why did you remove the number plates? Did you think something bad had happened? You must have suspected something was wrong if you removed them," the investigator presses.

 The investigator openly challenges Scicluna's account, accusing him of inventing a story to distance himself from the shooting.

"You're trying to sell us a story that isn't the truth."

Scicluna continues to stand by his account.

12:04 Accused Lorin Scicluna told investigators they met again near a garden beside a convenience store, the same place where he first handed over the vehicle. He claims that the man returned the car at around 10:45pm or 10:50pm on 6 April.

Scicluna also claims that he remembered leaving a firearm inside the vehicle. He explains that he keeps the firearm magazines in the car to avoid having to load them each time he visits the shooting range. Scicluna tells investigators that he has two magazines in the vehicle, each containing 15 rounds of ammunition.

Scicluna claims that he heard about the shooting two days later and began to fear that his vehicle and firearm could be connected to the crime.

11:58 The investigator continues pressing Scicluna, stressing that justice must be served for the victim, even if Scicluna is not the person who fired the fatal shots. "There is no doubt about the car," he tells Scicluna, repeatedly insisting that his Toyota Starlet is present in Ħal Far on the night of the shooting.

The interrogation takes a turn when Scicluna gives investigators a different account of events. He claims that, while working at the pastizzeria in February, a man approaches him and asks to borrow his car. Scicluna explains the encounter took place around 10pm.

Scicluna says he does not know the man's name.

Meanwhile, the jurors appear attentive as the recording plays in the courtroom, with some taking notes and others reviewing documents.

11:33 "You made a mistake, you realised you made a mistake, and now you're trying to cover it up. You're making things worse, Lorin. Listen to me. You're lying", the investigator warns.

"The sticker was put on after the murder. Is that a coincidence?" he asks.

The investigator challenges his denial, insisting that police have evidence placing him at the scene. "You were there. So much so that you modified the car afterwards," the investigator tells him.  "I wasn't there," Scicluna maintains.

11:24 In the police interrogation recording, Scicluna is asked about his whereabouts on 6 April 2019, particularly where he went after finishing work that evening.

The investigator once again confronts Scicluna with the fact that his Toyota Starlet was present at the scene of the shooting.

"Nobody in the world can answer this question except you," the investigator tells him.

 The investigator then asks Scicluna about his attitude toward black people.

He admits that he sometimes addresses them rudely, occasionally approaching them with remarks such as, "You want something?"

11:21 Court resumes, with the jurors being shown the police interrogation recording, where accused Lorin Scicluna confirms he is the only person who drives the Toyota Starlet.

Investigators confront Scicluna with the shooting.  "One person was killed and two others were injured. All three were dark-skinned. What can you tell us about this?" an investigator asks.

Scicluna appears taken aback by the questioning. "I am surprised," he responds.

"Why?" the investigator asks.

"Because it wasn't me," Scicluna replies.

"This case connects you to the car," an investigator tells him, insisting that his Toyota Starlet was present at the scene of the shooting.

The questioning intensifies as investigators repeatedly demand to know why Scicluna's vehicle is captured at the scene.

"What were you doing there?" an investigator asks. "I wasn't there," Scicluna insists.

The investigator reminds him that he is a 22-year-old man from a good family before confronting him once again.

"I am telling you, I have evidence that you were there." "I wasn't there, sir," Scicluna replies.

"I didn't shoot," Scicluna insists.

An investigator asks Scicluna whether someone who knows him could have used his vehicle and placed him in trouble. The investigator urges him to speak up, warning him about the seriousness of the situation and the responsibility he could face.

10:49 The proceedings have adjourned for a short break.

10:41 Scicluna admitted that he and Francesco Fenech had harassed migrants on previous occasions. He described one incident in which they confronted a migrant and got out of their vehicle to chase him.

Arnaud also referred to another incident in February, when the two ran over a migrant, May Malimi.

According to Scicluna's account, he was driving when they encountered the migrant travelling in the opposite direction. He claimed Fenech wanted to adjust the car stereo and that, while Fenech had his hands on the steering wheel, the vehicle struck the migrant.

Scicluna told investigators that he did not expect the impact to be so severe, but the collision completely shattered the vehicle's windscreen.

Arnaud confirmed that victims filed all reports about these incidents themselves, and that neither Scicluna nor Fenech ever reported them to police.

"Scicluna behaved well and cooperated with police throughout the investigation", Arnaud confirmed.

Scicluna claimed that he was driving while Francesco Fenech was seated in the passenger seat, with the firearm already beside him. "Look, there's a black man," Fenech told Scicluna as they approached a migrant walking along the road. Fenech then suddenly leaned across him and fired at the man.

Scicluna initially claimed that two shots were fired, but Arnaud pointed out that investigators recovered three cartridge cases from the scene.

Scicluna subsequently claimed that the victim was struck by the second or third shot.

He told investigators that Francesco's actions took him completely by surprise and that he angrily confronted Fenech, demanding to know why he had done such a thing.

Scicluna further said that Fenech grabbed the seatbelt before opening fire for a second time, this time targeting two migrants approaching from the opposite direction.

He claimed that he became furious with Fenech following the shootings and drove directly back to his garage.

10:19 Arnaud says that accused Lorin Scicluna later changed his version and gave investigators a substantially different account of events. He later said that he was working at a pastizzeria that evening, claiming that he and Francesco Fenech would ordinarily spend their free time either shooting cats or harassing migrants.

Scicluna alleged that, on the night in question, Fenech suggested going out to kill a cat.

After finishing work, Scicluna returned home, while Fenech also headed to his own residence. They later met and went to Scicluna's garage.

There, Scicluna claimed he was collecting his firearm, ammunition, and two magazines before removing the vehicle's registration plate. Scicluna had told Arnaud that removing registration plates was something they routinely did when going out to harass migrants.

10:15 When asked whether Scicluna harboured racist qualities, acquaintances of Scicluna told investigators that he occasionally made remarks about black people.

He sometimes complained that they bothered him because they were taking over.  Arnaud goes on to recount how Scicluna initially denied any involvement in the shooting but began changing his version of events after police told him, "We know about the car,".

Scicluna subsequently claimed that he had lent the vehicle to someone else and, upon hearing media reports that police are searching for a white Toyota Starlet, he became worried that he would be blamed for the shooting. Scicluna admitted to modifying the vehicle's appearance because of these concerns.

"When questioned about Francesco Fenech's involvement, Scicluna insisted that he had nothing to do with the case", Arnaud testified.

10:11 Assistant Commissioner Keith Arnaud explains how investigators eventually identified the vehicle allegedly used in the shooting through a process of elimination, relying on its distinctive features and Transport Malta's automated vehicle registration system.

Police eventually narrowed their search to white Toyota Starlets. Arnaud explains that the car stood out because one of its headlights was unusually bright, matching the vehicle captured on CCTV near the crime scene.

Further examination of CCTV footage revealed that the vehicle was missing its left-hand side mirror, which subsequently reappeared. Later, investigators also noticed changes to its appearance, including the addition of stickers and strips along its sides that were absent from earlier footage.

The vehicle was registered to Lorin Scicluna, a resident of Tarxien living near Moran Garden, remarkably close to the area where investigators last lost sight of the suspect vehicle.

Arnaud testifies that police visited the area and located the car, observing three layers of strips placed over one another.

Investigations also revealed that Scicluna held a firearms licence and owned a registered firearm compatible with the cartridge cases recovered from the crime scene.

Arnaud tells the court that he was the one to carry out Scicluna's arrest.

09:47 Arnaud explains that investigators begin tracing the vehicle's movements through CCTV footage, identifying several distinctive features that make it easier to track.

These included one headlight appearing brighter than the other on the right-hand side, as well as the absence of registration plates.

Investigators traced the vehicle travelling through several roads and eventually through Triq is-Sorijiet, where they lost track of it.

09:47 Investigators also spoke to residents living a short distance from the crime scene whose properties have CCTV cameras, although the footage contains no audio.

At 10:51pm, CCTV footage captures the victim walking along the road from the direction of Birżebbuġa, possibly heading towards his residence.

At 10:52pm, CCTV captured a Toyota Starlet driving along the road. Just 23 seconds later, the same vehicle was seen travelling in the opposite direction.  The footage also captures the two migrants suddenly turning to look behind them, leading investigators to suspect that this could be the moment the shots were fired.

Arnaud explains that further CCTV footage shows the white Toyota Starlet travelling without registration plates.

09:46 Ibrahim Bah described a white car, while Mohammed Jallow recalled a dark-coloured vehicle, possibly black.

"These conflicting versions set us back slightly," Arnaud explains.  One of the injured men also told investigators that he spotted two individuals inside the vehicle, describing one as young, with dark, curly hair. When asked whether there was any reason why someone would want to attack him, the victim insisted there was none.

Arnaud goes on to describe the injuries the two men sustained. Bah suffered a gunshot wound to his buttocks, while Jallow was shot in the pelvic area, with the bullet becoming lodged on the opposite side of his body. Jallow was initially certified as being in danger of losing his life but was later in stable condition.

Turning to the forensic investigation, Arnaud explains that feedback from crime scene officers and subsequent forensic examinations established that the ammunition recovered is of the STV brand.

Arnaud adds that during the victim's autopsy, a bullet was discovered lodged in his head and was handed over to forensic experts for further analysis.

09:39 Arnaud testifies that the two other injured migrants were found near Doris House, where investigators also discovered another four spent cartridge cases.

Further along the road towards Birżebbuġa, investigators also noticed apparent damage to a garage, including what appeared to be bullet holes.

Arnaud is now explaining how investigators established the identities of the deceased victim and the two injured migrants.

09:32 Assistant commissioner Keith Arnaud takes the stand. He explains that on the day of the incidents, he was stationed with the Criminal Investigation Department's (CID) Homicide Squad.

Arnaud recounts how emergency doctor Jonathan Joslin was already present on site. He observed Cisse's lifeless body lying on the ground, with its feet pointing towards Birżebbuġa and its head towards Ħal Far.

Arnaud also testifies that two other migrants were found on the same road that night and were immediately taken to Mater Dei Hospital after sustaining gunshot wounds. He describes how the victim's body lay in a pool of blood, with three cartridge cases near his feet.

"The victim was still wearing his headphones and music was still playing", Arnaud recalls.

09:27 The jurors enter the courtroom.

Doctor Saverio Francesco Bianco takes the witness stand. He explains that, at the time of the crime, he was working as a house officer at Mater Dei Hospital, undergoing specialist training in oncology.

He proceeds to describe the medical assistance he provided on the night of 6 April 2019.