Witness says Erin Tanti 'described himself as a sociopath'

A friend of the drama teacher accused of causing the death of one of his students has told a court that the accused had described himself as a sociopath and become increasingly reclusive since beginning his relationship with one of his students.

The compilation of evidence against Erin Tanti, charged with responsibility for the death of Lisa Marie Zahra last March, continued today with a string of character witnesses testifying. 

Defence lawyers Michael and Lucio Sciriha at one point expressed their frustration at “irrelevant testimony” from a prosecution witness.

The witness, Maths teacher Marlene Bugeja had described Lisa Marie Zahra as "bubbly, happy and intelligent". Zahra had been receiving private tuition from Bugeja for several years. The girl had told her about her boyfriend, Erin, but Bugeja was not aware that he was a teacher and considerably older than Zahra.

Bugeja described Zahra as a sensitive, warm-hearted girl and recalled the time that the girl had gone to choose a pet ferret and had chosen the runt of the litter, one which was blind in one eye. “That was the type of character she had.”

She recalled that on the day she died, Zahra did not turn up for her 3pm lesson. Later that evening, another student of hers had called her up and informed her of the tragic event.

The second witness to be heard today, James Muscat, a friend of Tanti’s, told the court that he had known the accused for several years, during which they had collaborated on various stand-up comedy shows.

Muscat told the court that Tanti was very much in love with Lisa. In November 2013, he explained, Tanti had told him and a business partner that he was in a relationship, but would not give any details. The accused had, however, told them that her father was “very powerful.”

He told the court how in December, Tanti had become more withdrawn and reclusive – a fact which the accused had blamed on family trouble and a recent traffic accident involving his father.

He recalled that on one occasion, Tanti had described himself to the witness as a sociopath. Muscat said that he had answered Tanti by telling him that he had noticed his character had changed and that if he wasn’t going to change his direction, their friendship would end.

Police inspectors Keith Arnaud and Josric Mifsud are prosecutimg, whilst lawyers Giannella Demarco, Joseph Giglio and Stephen Tonna Lowell are apearing in parte civile for the Zahra family.