Tista' taqra bil- Malti.
A cousin and a friend of Chantelle Chetcuti who was stabbed to death in February testified during the gathering of evidence against a 33-year-old man accused of her murder on Monday afternoon.
Justin Borg from Ħal Safi was charged over the stabbing of Chetcuti who succumbed to the injuries within 24 hours. The alleged aggressor is the victim’s former partner.
Police Inspector Kurt Zahra is leading the prosecution. Lawyer Stephanie Caruana appeared as parte civile.
Lawyers Franco Debono and Marion Camilleri are appearing for the accused.
Magistrate Rachel Montebello is presiding over the court.
The next hearing will be on 20 August at 9am and 29 September at 11am.
Thank you for following this live blog.
Dr Camilleri asks about Sunday when Chetcuti was stabbed.
'When did she mention the person she met that day on the first time?'
The witness says that it was during the Zabbar festa. Chetcuti stopped mentioned the person she was with when she was stabbed when she made up with the accused.
'When did she mention the person she met that day on the first time?'
The witness says that it was during the Zabbar festa. Chetcuti stopped mentioned the person she was with when she was stabbed when she made up with the accused.
Dr Camilleri in her cross-examination asks about flights the accused had bought for the victim and himself.
She says that the accused would insist on buying the flights even though the victim did not want.
She says that the accused would insist on buying the flights even though the victim did not want.
Chetcuti did not want to return to his house because she was not sure that she wanted to be with him.
After they broke up, he was following her everywhere.
They broke up in September 2019 and January 2020.
The accused had proposed to the victim. She had left their residence when they broke up in September.
They broke up in September 2019 and January 2020.
The accused had proposed to the victim. She had left their residence when they broke up in September.
The witness details episodes of stalking. Two days before they were having a drink and Borg was already hiding close to where they were.
That evening he followed them everywhere.
Magistrate Montebello asks if the events happened in one night, the witness affirms.
That evening he followed them everywhere.
Magistrate Montebello asks if the events happened in one night, the witness affirms.
Police Inspector asks why did the victim told them "if am still alive".
The witness says that she was afraid of the accused that he would beat her up.
The witness says that she was afraid of the accused that he would beat her up.
The next witness is a friend of the victim and her cousin. She had known her for 16 years.
'On the day she was stabbed, we had to go on a picnic together but she decided to go out,' the witness tells the court.
Chetcuti had told her that she was out.
In the group chat and in their chats she would voice her concerns and fears. The witness says that when Chetcuti was afraid for her life and had told her group of friends "if I would be still alive" when they were planning a trip to Gozo.
Chetcuti had broken up with the accused in September 2019.
'On the day she was stabbed, we had to go on a picnic together but she decided to go out,' the witness tells the court.
Chetcuti had told her that she was out.
In the group chat and in their chats she would voice her concerns and fears. The witness says that when Chetcuti was afraid for her life and had told her group of friends "if I would be still alive" when they were planning a trip to Gozo.
Chetcuti had broken up with the accused in September 2019.
The witness says that she printed the chats she thought were relevant to the proceedings.
Dr Camilleri is asking whether the victim was seeing the man she was with on the night.
Chetcuti had met the man during the Zabbar feast and then stopped meeting the man when the victim and the accused were trying to make up. She then met him on the night.
Chetcuti had met the man during the Zabbar feast and then stopped meeting the man when the victim and the accused were trying to make up. She then met him on the night.
Chetcuti never worked as she brought up their children.
After escaping from their house, she went back to her mother's house.
After escaping from their house, she went back to her mother's house.
The witness is being cross-examined by Dr Camilleri. She is asking whether the victim was sleeping over at the accused frequently until up to the accident. The witness says that she did sleep at the accused's house.
The witness got to know from a friend about the stabbing.
She called the victim's sister who confirmed and later told her that "there was a lot of blood".
The ambulance stopped frequently because she was in danger of dying.
She called the victim's sister who confirmed and later told her that "there was a lot of blood".
The ambulance stopped frequently because she was in danger of dying.
The victim felt as though she was on the run.
The witness is reading out from a chat between Chetcuti and herself on Sunday when she was stabbed.
The witness is reading out from a chat between Chetcuti and herself on Sunday when she was stabbed.
The witness has printed out some chats between her and the victim.
She tells the court that they were planning to go up to Gozo for carnival over a group chat. The witness tells the court that they planned to buy wigs for carnival and Chetcuti had remarked "if am still alive".
She tells the court that they were planning to go up to Gozo for carnival over a group chat. The witness tells the court that they planned to buy wigs for carnival and Chetcuti had remarked "if am still alive".
'On the day, I was worried for her. I had been worried for her for ten days since the day he crashed into the wall and she was a passenger in the same car,' her cousin tells the court.
The witness says that Borg started going to places Chetcuti and her cousin would go to and which he previously never went to.
The witness is detailing the episodes of what she described as stalking. The publishing of the details has been banned.
Two days before she was stabbed, the accused and the victim went for a walk. They were going to family therapy.
After leaving, Borg crashed into a wall. Her cousin tells the court that Borg "did it on purpose" since it was a road they frequently used.
Chetcuti went to her cousin's house. Her cousin insisted to drive her to the police station to file a report after the accused wanted to go for her and go to the police together.
After leaving, Borg crashed into a wall. Her cousin tells the court that Borg "did it on purpose" since it was a road they frequently used.
Chetcuti went to her cousin's house. Her cousin insisted to drive her to the police station to file a report after the accused wanted to go for her and go to the police together.
Her cousin recalls that last year, they went to Zabbar festa without informing him. He got to know and turned up. They ended up with the accused running after them along the streets.
The magistrate says that given the circumstances it is accepted and will be weighed accordingly.
Dr Camilleri says that this is all hearsay and does not have any relevance.
"She had told me that she accepted that Borg was aggressive towards her because she could trust him until she found out that he was cheating on her. She found flights booked and he also lent money to the family of the woman he was having an affair with," her cousin says.
While Chetcuti and her cousin grew apart, last year, they started hanging out together.
Her cousin is detailing episodes of domestic violence when the accused used to be her partner.
His mother knew about certain things.
Her cousin is detailing episodes of domestic violence when the accused used to be her partner.
His mother knew about certain things.
Before even they had their children, Borg had sent her letter threatening Chetcuti that he would overdose if she does not be with him.
Her cousin explains that some 20 years ago, Borg used to turn up outside her house throwing rocks at the balcony for her to emerge.
"In reality she never wanted to be with her," she says.
"In reality she never wanted to be with her," she says.
Chetcuti's cousin takes the witness stand. She is two years younger than the victim. They were brought up together.
Dr Camilleri asks whether there were more conversations and why did he feel to extract the conversations between the accused and the victim.
He explains that the extraction was complete and they were placed in separate folders.
He explains that the extraction was complete and they were placed in separate folders.
Cutajar explains that when he got to know that the Magistrate informed him that the victim was fighting for her life, he sought permission to be able to access the mobile through biometric data.
The chats between the accused and victim will be presented on a USB stick. The magistrate asks if the chats have been printed.
Cutajar explains that since they had been together for quite some time, the conversation is "voluminous".
Cutajar explains that since they had been together for quite some time, the conversation is "voluminous".
The accused did not provide his password and the police could not access his mobile.
For the police to extract data from the accused's mobile can only be obtained if it is sent abroad.
For the police to extract data from the accused's mobile can only be obtained if it is sent abroad.
IT court expert Keith Cutajar takes the witness stand. He explains that the report documents four locations from which CCTV footage was taken.
The victim's mobile was seized. He explains that he sought a permission to visit the victim while in ITU to get the biometric read.
The court expert explains that chats between the victim and the accused were extracted from the phone.
The victim's mobile was seized. He explains that he sought a permission to visit the victim while in ITU to get the biometric read.
The court expert explains that chats between the victim and the accused were extracted from the phone.
Magistrate Montebello says that this will be taken on a case by case basis, advising the press to be careful on what to publish.
Dr Camilleri points out that the accused and the victim have children and that they are feeling the pressure. She requests that the proceedings are held behind closed doors or that in certain cases details are not published.
Magistrate Rachel Montebello enters the courtroom.
The accused walks in.
Already present in the courtroom are Police Inspector Kurt Zahra, defence lawyers Dr Marion Camilleri and Dr Francesca Zarb are already in the courtoom.
Good afternoon and welcome to this live blog. Newsbook.com.mt is live from courtroom 5.
