Tanti told police: ‘She called me a pussy, counted to three and jumped’

Erint Tanti, 23, the supply teacher of drama facing charges of murder and assisted suicide of Lisa Maria Zahra, 15, was said to have claimed he did not want to jump at the moment when Zahra decided to end her life from Dingli Cliffs.

In a cross-examination of police investigators and witnesses by defence counsel Michael Sciriha, it was established today that Tanti could have feared being arrested by police after the Zahra family found out that he was having sexual relations with Zahra, a student at the St Michael Foundation where Tanti was employed.

Tanti at first denied having had sexual relations with the girl, but was then faced with photos found in his mobile phone of him and the girl, naked in bed; and with reports showing traces of semen found in Zahra's underwear.

He was said to have told his mother Caroline Tanti, who was aware that he was having a relationship with the girl, that he did not want "to be known as some paedo".

Police found a Virtù Ferries ticket in his jacket pocket, together with just under €2,500 in cash which appear to be taken from a cash box belonging to his comedy troupe Wembley Stores Boy, suggesting that Tanti was preparing to take flight.

However, on the night of the 18-19 March, Tanti picked up Zahra from her house, the two then switched off their mobile phones in the vicinity of Naxxar, and then drove to Dingli Cliffs. The two were believed to have drank half a bottle of whisky, swalled the contents of three boxes of aspirin, before proceeding to jump.

Tanti told police officers that he saw Zahra searching for a spot from where to jump, but that he did not want to jump. He then said that Zahra looked at him, called him a 'pussy', counted to three and then jump. Tanti was said to have watched her fall to her death, hitting the rocks before landing in a tree.

The autopsy on Zahra's body confirmed that she had suffered head fractures and multiple joint fractures, compatible with the trauma suffered frorm the fall.

Tanti proceeded to jump after Zahra, but was said to have woken up later "in great pain", and then attempted to crawl back.

Although he did not wear a wristwatch, police inspectors testifying said he was very accurate about the time at which the jump took place, 4am.

12:11 The court is expected to give a ruling on the prima facie evidence in the next sitting Chris Mangion

12:11 Prosecution says there are no more witnesses for the day - Magistrate Audrey Demicoli has put off the case for the 28 April Chris Mangion

12:10 Scicluna says police searched for Tanti's car at various departure ports, to no avail. Chris Mangion

12:10 "He also told us that 'if the cash is missing he has run away from the island'." - Muscat was Tanti's partner in the Wembley Store Boys, a comedy troupe. Chris Mangion

12:09 Sergeant Alex Scicluna from the Valletta police station explains that he accessed Tanti's apartment with the assistance of the Civil Protection Department, entering his apartment through the balcony using a ladder. Tanti's mother Caroline and his friend James Muscat were also present. Muscat told them some items that Tanti considered to be sentimental to him were missing. Chris Mangion

12:07 Next on the witness stand, Kimberley Cachia from the Vice Squad recounting the searches at the Zahra residence, corroborating the evidence given yesterday by Sergeant Valletta. Chris Mangion

12:06 Mifsud says that nurses had informed the investigators that Tanti had suffered fractures but that he in a condition to talk with officers. Chris Mangion

12:04 Sciriha: "When you questioned Tanti, were you aware that he was injured?" Chris Mangion

12:04 Mifsud replies that he did not read the letter, but that in his opinion "it was a love letter - a subjective opinion". Chris Mangion

12:03 The defence, recalling the inspector's description of an alleged 'love letter' from a Danish woman, the defence questions the inspector why he desribed it in this way. Chris Mangion

11:54 Mifsud replies that the interrogation was led by inspector Keith Arnaud, and that he confirmed some six pages of notes after the interrogation. Chris Mangion

11:53 Sciriha: "As an experienced senior officer, did you take down notes during your interrogation, to guarantee that nobody forgets or leaves out any details, like you did today?" Chris Mangion

11:53 Mifsud recalls hearing Tanti say that he had not killed Zahra, but that he left it out of his testimony unintentionally. Chris Mangion

11:52 Dr Sciriha has asked the witness if he has told the court everything he heard in the last interrogation, to which Mifsud replies 'yes'. The defence demands an explanation as to why Mifsud has left out Erin Tanti's statement saying 'I did not kill her'. Chris Mangion

11:51 Asked about a particular teddy bear, Mifsud says that no particular soft toy caught his attention. The toys were checked by a police sergeant. "I have no reason to re-check a sergeant's work." Chris Mangion

11:51 Mifsud says there was an email from Caroline Tanti regarding flight tickets. "I opened Lisa Maria's gmail… an Easyjet email caught my eye.” Chris Mangion

11:43 Sciriha asks Mifsud how long he had spent checking Zahra's personal computer. Mifsud: "Approximately the search at Lisa Maria's home lasted an hour. But it could have last two hours. I did not keep time. I wanted to go back out on the street hoping to find them alive." Chris Mangion

11:41 Sciriha: "You spoke to his mother at length yet you did not tell us the same thing the other inspector said... did she tell you that Erin had called her saying, 'Mum, this has got nothing to do with you. I love you'"? Mifsud replies that he was not told that by Caroline Tanti. Chris Mangion

11:40 "At that stage I informed police inspector Sylvana Briffa that we had two missing people, one of whom lived in a Valletta apartment, and I spoke to the mother." Chris Mangion

11:39 Inspector Mifsud: "I took no notes when I spoke to Tanti's mother. I do not recall if I told the other inspectors of what she told me. I am here under oath and I can only say what I asked her and what her answers were. My intention was to find the two missing youths." Chris Mangion

11:38 Michael Sciriha cross examining witnesses Chris Mangion

11:32 Mifsud says that searches at both MIA and the seaport proved negative. Chris Mangion

11:30 De Marco "Yet he took Lisa Maria to Dingli Cliffs, not to the airport." Chris Mangion

11:30 Mifsud: "Tanti took the money and passport, showing that he was planning to travel abroad." Chris Mangion

11:28 Inspector Mifsud explains that he had confronted the accused with photos of him in bed, naked with Zahra. "In hospital he categorically denied having had sexual contact with her, but then underwear was found containing semen... he had told his mother that he did not want 'to be known as some paedo'." Chris Mangion

11:27 Lawyer Gianella de Marco asks "what was Tanti so scared of being arrested for?" Chris Mangion

11:26 Inside Tanti's wallet, a Virtu Ferries ticket was found. Chris Mangion

11:24 11:24 - Mifsud says that just one hour away from his arraignment in court, Tanti told investigators that he loved Lisa Maria Zahra, "but on that night [18-19 March] he planned to terminate their relationship and leave the island fearing a possible arrest." Chris Mangion

11:23 During three separate interrogations, Tanti availed himself of the right to be silent. Chris Mangion

11:22 Tanti was transferred to Mount Carmel Hospital for further treatmeant, and released on 1 April, and arrested by the police. DNA swabbing was carried out Tanti while in hospital. Chris Mangion

11:22 On 21 March, the autopsy on Zahra's body concluded that she had died due to trauma compatible with a fall, suffeering head fractures and multiple dislocated joints. Chris Mangion

11:20 Mifsud: "Tanti said he saw Zahra hit some rocks and tumble to her death. He jumped after her but survived the fall. Waking up in great pain, he tried to signal for help." Chris Mangion

11:18 Mifsud: "Tanti told me that 'Lisa wanted to commit suicide by jumping, she stopped, called me 'pussy', counted to three and jumped." Chris Mangion

11:17 Inspector Mifsud has corroborated previous evidence relaying Tanti's explanation of the events of the previous night. Chris Mangion

11:16 Inside the car boot, police found letters and notes, "including a letter from a Danish woman" - Mifsud Chris Mangion

11:15 More details on what was inside Tanti's car: three empty boxes of aspirin; a wallet; Tanti's identity card; two mobile phones; and a half-consumed whisky bottle. Chris Mangion

11:13 Drug squad officers also searched Tanti's vehicle, finding four cheques and €2,490 in cash. Chris Mangion

11:12 This police check was carried out on 19 March, the same day that police were informed of Tanti's whereabouts at the foot of Dingli cliffs. Chris Mangion

11:11 Mifsud says police checked with airline carriers to see if either of the youths had travelled from Malta at the time. Chris Mangion

11:10 A search was conducted in Zahra's bedroom - Mifsud reiterates findings reported yesterday in court, of having found cannabis grass in Lisa Maria Zahra's bedroom. In her personal computer, police found airline tickets dated at around the beginning of March sent to Zahra from Caroline Tanti, the accused's mother. Chris Mangion

11:08 Mifsud says it was Tanti's friend James Muscat who took the police to Tanti's apartment in Valletta. Chris Mangion

11:07 Mifsud recounts what Caroline Tanti told him: "The day before [the incident] Erin Tanti called his mother to tell her he loves her." Chris Mangion

11:07 Erin Tanti's mother Caroline was spoken to by the police; Mifsud says the Tanti couple had recently split up, and informed the police that her son was renting an apartment in Valletta but that she did not know the address. Chris Mangion

11:06 Mifsud says the documentation shows that the phones were switched off at 11:30pm in the area of Birguma, limits of Naxxar. Chris Mangion

11:05 Mifsud: on 19 march he received a missing person's report so he contacted telecoms companies GO and Vodafone, to provide him with the call profiles and localisation of the mobile phones belonging to Zahra and Tanti. He exhibits the documentation recieved by the service providers. Chris Mangion

11:01 Next on the witness stand will be Inspector Josric Mifsud Chris Mangion

11:01 Debattista explains that he did not see any watches on Tanti's wrist but points out that Tanti was "very accurate about the time of the jump and rescue." Chris Mangion

11:00 The defence recalls how the sergeant yesterday claimed that Tanti's watch had not been damaged in the fall, but points out that "the accused never in his life carried a watch." Chris Mangion

11:00 Defence counsel Michael Sciriha asks Debattista who was the custodian of Tanti's personal belongings at the time of the rescue. Debattista says he does not know: "I liaised with Police Inspector Josric Mifsud and told him all I knew. Later I filed my report." Chris Mangion

10:58 He gave evidence yesterday and will now be cross-examined by the defence. Chris Mangion

10:58 The first to take the stand if Konrad Debattista, the police sergeant who was first on the scene to rescue Erin Tanti. Chris Mangion

10:52 Today's sitting will probably see more police officers taking the witness stand. Police Inspector Sylvana Briffa is today leading the prosecution instead of inspector Keith Arnaud. Chris Mangion

10:51 Lawyers appearing in parte civile for the Zahra family - Gianella de Marco, Joe Giglio, Steve Tonna Lowell - enter the courtroom. Chris Mangion

10:48 It is a packed courtoom once more, including relatives of the victim and the accused. Today Michael Sciriha, the defence lawyer for Erin Tanti, will be cross-examining witnesses today. Chris Mangion

10:46 The compilation of evidence against Erin Tanti, 23, accused of murder and assisted suicide of Lisa Maria Zahra, 15, enters its third day today. Chris Mangion

Live blog and report of second day of compilation of evidence