Daphne Caruana Galizia | Contested witness absent from courtroom

The compilation of evidence against the three men accused of murdering journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia in October 2017 resumes, after lawyers for the accused failed to convince the law courts that IT expert Martin Bajada should not be allowed to testify.

The lawyers had presented a constitutional case asking the court to stop Bajada from testifying over a theft and fraud conviction back in 1993, but it was turned down by the court.

Despite this turn of events, the contested witness could not testify during today's proceedings due to his prior engagements.

10:46 Court expert Martin Bajada could not testify due to being engaged elsewhere... he will testify at next Thursday's sitting David Hudson

10:46 Proceedings are adjourned. The case will continue on Thursday at 9:15am David Hudson

10:34 Next time a Vodafone representative will come to explain the process of gathering the data. It has to be a court expert to process the data... David Hudson

10:32 Jason Azzopardi: “We are not going to accept that a witness would have to break the law to answer a question" David Hudson

10:32 Vodafone had been asked to provide data but not process it, as this would be illegal David Hudson

10:31 Both sides are now arguing over Vodafone data. A court expert explains that the defence had requested processing of data from cell towers. This involved compiling massive storage of data, something which had never been done before David Hudson

10:23 This concludes Capt. Lanfranco's testimony David Hudson

10:22 The footage is not clear enough to identify the individual, he said. "There is an element of doubt" David Hudson

10:21 Lawyer William Cuschieri asks where he got the information that Degiorgio was on the Maya David Hudson

10:20 Captain Reuben Lanfranco is on the stand for cross-examination David Hudson

10:17 The accused have taken their place in the courtroom David Hudson

09:28 READ the story from yesterday's court sitting over here. Matthew Vella

09:27 But the accused do not want Bajada to testify and have tried several Constitutional avenues to prevent this from happening. The latest, filed with urgency two days ago, contends that allowing Bajada to testify would breach their right to a fair hearing. Matthew Vella

09:27 Brothers George and Alfred Degiorgio stand accused together with Vince Muscat with Caruana Galizia’s homicide. The compilation of evidence regarding the murder continues tomorrow, with the testimony of court appointed IT expert Dr. Martin Bajada, who assisted in the inquiry. Matthew Vella

09:27 Yesterday, a judge declined to exercise his Constitutional powers and prevent a witness from testifying, in a case filed by the men accused of the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia. Matthew Vella

09:20 Good morning, and welcome to our live-blog. Stay tuned. Matthew Vella

The court has been adjourned for next Thursday 7 March at 9:15am. Bajada will testify then.