In a note written three weeks before she was found dead in her car three years ago, lawyer Margaret Mifsud had given a detailed account of how her estranged husband had tried to strangle her, a jury heard today.

This evidence was read out on the fifth day of the trial by jury of Nizar el Gadi, who is accused of the murder of his former wife, who was found asphyxiated in her car in Qalet Marku, Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq on April 19, 2012.

The court heard how the document had been found during a search in the victim’s house during the murder investigations. The alleged incident happened on March 24, 2012, and a calligraphy expert established that the statement had in fact been written by the victim.

The statement, written in blue ink and with marginal notes in the manner of a court document, recalled how the accused had threatened to “leave her tearing her hair out in the street and ridiculed”. El Gadi would get Mifsud’s professional warrant revoked and ruin her, the statement read.

She recounted how the accused had led her to the sofa and pushed her on to it, asking her how if she wanted the situation to end. “Do you want us to be enemies?” asked the Libyan, before asking her to turn around. Though she initially refused to follow his orders, she eventually acquiesced and the accused started squeezing her throat.

El Gadi had asked her whether she thought that he could kill her. The victim let go but before she could react, her estranged husband wrapped a belt around her neck, repeatedly asking her “me or the children?” Inspector Carol Fabri testified.

The court heard how the defendant would threaten his estranged wife that he had friends from Libya who would murder her in Strait Street, near the law courts in Valletta.

On his part, defence lawyer Martin Testaferrata Moroni Viani argued that the document was merely a draft, found among bank documents and had not been filed in court.

Inspector Fabri also testified that the couple’s children who at the time were aged seven and eight, had been interviewed, but were still under shock.

Both children had confirmed that their parent’s relationship was a turbulent one and arguments were the order of the day. One daughter had recounted how her father once dragged her by the hair to the kitchen and slapped her, for the simple reason that she had not put a glass back in its place.

The children had spoken of another incident, when the parents had argued and the accused had punched the door, damaging it.

The jury also heard how the accused had erratic mood swings.  On one occasion  the family was in Sliema, and the accused ended up on his knees begging his wife and asking her to forgive him.

Another witness, Inspector Elton Taliana, who at the time had been stationed at the Birkirkara station, had been sought out by the victim after the strangulation incident.

“She was terrified at the time and had no idea what to do,” the inspector testified. He also pointed out that he had reminded her that the acts she was reporting would force him to prosecute her estranged husband.

The defence insisted that the victim was only seeking advice and had not wanted to file a report.

Inspector Taliana denied suggestions by the defence that he had told the accused not to speak to any lawyers or threaten to revoke his refugee status saying this was just a “fairy tale”.

“I did not threaten him, but I did give him clear instructions to stay away from Margaret Mifsud’s house,” he added.

The inspector also testified that he had noticed the grip marks on the victim’s throat and had sent her for medical certification after she lodged a report at the Birkirkara police station.

He testified how the accused was afraid to go and live at her new house in Lija as the accused had once told her that “you could murder and bury a person” over there.

The trial continues tomorrow.