Accused told murdered lawyer that he controlled her with ‘the palm of his hand’

Described by a defence lawyer as a pseudo 'agony aunt' of murdered lawyer Margaret Mifsud, witness Geraldine Watson responded that contrary to the conjecture, "I know, because I was told on an almost daily basis by Margaret, that her former husband was controlling her every single move, almost suffocating her, threatening her and being abusive in many ways."

Brought over from Canada as the star witness to the prosecution's case against 34 year-old Tripoli born Nizar El-Gadi, who is charged with murdering Margaret Mifsud last April, Geraldine Watson confirmed being the recipient of a number of emails sent to her by the victim, in which she recounted her daily ordeal in having to deal with El-Gadi, who was also the father of her two children.

Calm and accurate in her replies, three-time divorcee Watson explained that she had only met Margaret Mifsud twice in 10 years, once in Malta and another time in Canada, but kept up an almost daily dialogue via email over the years.

In her emails, Mifsud would open herself to Watson, telling her how she felt, what she thought, and what she feared.

She rejected being described as an 'agony aunt' by defence lawyer Martin Testaferrata Moroni Viani, and said that through the emails, she had got to know Mifsud "inside out."

"She used to tell me how Nizar would threaten to take her kids away, play with their emotions, and worse would make her paranoid that he was always around, to the extent that he once hid inside her car, startling her, and telling her that he would be around wherever she was," the witness said.

While confirming all correspondence she had received from Mifsud which were reproduced in court as evidence, Watson revealed how Nizar had told her that she could never get rid of him, and that he controlled her on the palm of his hand.

"He was so nasty to her," Watson said, adding that Nizar would even play around with his daughter's minds, despite them wanting to stay with their father.

The witness explained how Margaret Mifsud trusted in God, and prayed every day to find the strength to get over the fact that she had to have her marriage annulled.

"She knew she had an obligation towards her children, and never wanted to deprive them of their father," Watson said.

Attempted suicide.

Another witness called to the witness stand was Inspector Josric Mifsud, who was also part of the investigation which led to the arrest of Nizar El-Gadi in connection to Margaret Mifsud's murder.

Inspector Mifsud said that El-Gadi had tried to hang himself while kept in a holding cell at the police headquarters.

He was sent to Mount Carmel Hospital for some time and subsequently interrogated once more.

Mifsud said that the accused was never consistent in his replies, and never provided simple answers as to where he was on the night Margaret Mifsud was murdered.

Inspector Mifsud also confirmed that investigations led the police to discover that Niozar El-Gadi had rented a car for the night Margaret Mifsud was killed.