Minor's testimony heard behind closed doors

12:29 Journalists, as well as relatives, were again allowed to enter the hall. Taking the witness stand, psychiatrist Leanne Camilleri testified that when the police had arrived at the hospital to interrogate Tanti, the accused was in a fit state and able to answer to the police.
Next on the witness stand was psychiatrist Anton Grech, who said that he will exempt himself from testifying by availing of his professional secrecy.
The request was however, not upheld by the defence whcih claimed that it had to first consult with its client. Dr Grech did not testify. The case has been adjourned to 14th August. Matthew Vella

11:31 The reason quoted for the decision was that 'the proceedings/evidence, if conducted in public, might be offensive to modesty or might cause scandal.' Chris Mangion

11:30 Only lawyers, the accused, and the police escort remain inside. Chris Mangion

11:30 Magistrate Demicoli has ordered the hall to be cleared. Chris Mangion

11:30 The witness, a minor, will testify behind closed doors. Chris Mangion

11:30 The magistrate has now upheld the request. Chris Mangion

11:25 Tonna Lowell has once again requested that the witness, a minor, is allowed to testify behind closed doors. Chris Mangion

11:24 The ask.fm conversations pertain to the account kept by Lisa Maria Zahra Chris Mangion

11:22 Sciriha says that if the conversations were taken offline in the time since the March tragedy, it would be the court expert to see on whose order were the conversations removed; the court upholds the request. Chris Mangion

11:20 Defence lawyer Michael Sciriha has requested that court expert Stephen Farrugia Sacco, an IT expert, be appointed to download conversations from ask.fm, the youth social media website. Chris Mangion

11:18 Tanti has just been escorted into the court: the prison guard tells the magistrate he was short on staff and could not send Tanti on time. Chris Mangion

11:16 Erin Tanti has still not been presented in court: the magistrate complains that prison guards had been informed well in advance of the sitting. Chris Mangion

11:12 The court says that there is no legal rule allowing one witness to be heard behind closed doors whilst the rest are public witnesses. Chris Mangion

11:12 Lawyers Gianella de Marco and Joe Giglio, also appearing for the Zahra family, argue that they requested evidence to be heard behind closed doors as a matter of 'morality' concerning the minor. "Her evidence is very sensitive in nature," they said. Chris Mangion

11:11 The magistrate has upheld the ban on the witness's details, but has rejected the request to have the evidence heard behind closed doors. Chris Mangion

11:09 Magistrate Audrey Demicoli has replied that the proceedings are not being held behind closed doors and that she will not "invent new rules". Chris Mangion

11:07 He has also asked for a ban on the details of the witness. Chris Mangion

11:07 Lawyer Stephen Tonna Lowell, representing the relatives, has requested that the first witness is heard in camera since she is a minor. Chris Mangion

11:05 Magistrate Audrey Demicoli has entered her court. Chris Mangion

11:05 Other Zahra relatives are waiting outside in the corridor of the law courts. Chris Mangion

11:05 There's silence in the courtroom as the relatives of Lisa Maria Zahra and journalists await the accused and the magistrate. Chris Mangion

A minor testifying against 23-year-old supply teacher Erin Tanti was heard behind closed doors after Magistrate Audrey Demicoli upheld a request by the lawyers of the victim’s family.

Tanti is accused of murdering and assisting in the suicide of 15-year-old pupil Lisa Marie Zahra.

The supply teacher is also accused of defilement of a minor, corruption of a minor, abuse of a position of trust, misuse of technology, and possession of indecent material involving minors. The accused has pleaded not guilty.

The minor, whose details have been banned by court order, testified via video conference.

Lawyers Giannella de Marco and Joe Giglio, appearing in parte civile for the Zahra family, requested that the proceedings be heard behind closed doors due to her “sensitive testimony.”

The victim’s family also argued that the issue is a matter of “morality” concerning the minor, and requested that the court ban the details of the minor.

While the request for the ban of the details was instantly accepted by Magistrate Audrey Demicoli, the defence’s requests for the sitting to be heard behind closed doors went unheeded, claiming that there is no legal provision allowing one witness to be heard behind closed doors whilst the rest are subject to the public eye.

But after the defence expressed no objection to the request of the lawyers of the victim’s family, Magistrate Demicoli accepted the request quoting Article 531 of the Criminal Code in stating that “the courts may hold its sittings with closed doors in cases where the proceedings might be offensive to modesty, or might cause scandal.”

Yesterday’s sitting also saw the court reappoint IT expert Stephen Farrugia Sacco to download Lisa Marie Zahra’s conversations on social media website ask.fm. In addition, Psychiatrist Leanne Camilleri, testified that when the police arrived at the hospital to interrogate Erin Tanti, he was in a fit state and able to answer to the police’s questions.

On the night of 18-19 March, Tanti picked up Zahra from her house, the two then switched off their mobile phones before driving to Dingli Cliffs. The two were believed to have drunk half a bottle of whisky, swallowed aspiring, before proceeding to jump.

The two were then discovered in a ledge beneath Dingli Cliffs.

15-year-old Zahra – identified as the daughter of businessman Anthony Zahra – died in the fall after suffering head fractures and multiple joint fractures. Tanti is said to have proceeded to jump after Zahra, but was said to have woken up later “in great pain”, and then attempted to crawl back.

During a previous sitting, Tanti said he feared being arrested by the police after the Zahra family found out he was having a sexual relationship with Zahra. Despite initially denying of having sexual relations with Zahra, he later admitted after being faced with photos found in his mobile phone of him and the girl, naked in bed.

The case has been adjourned to 14th August at 10:30am.

Lawyers Joe Giglio, Giannella de Marco, Steve Tonna Lowell and Reuben Farrugia are appearing in parte civile for the Zahra family. Lawyers Michael and Lucio Sciriha are appearing for Erin Tanti.

Inspectors Keith Arnaud, Josric Mifsud and Sylvana Briffa are prosecuting.