Teacher ‘said that he was a sociopath’

Drama teacher Erin Tanti told a friend he was a sociopath and lied to him about his girlfriend’s age, a court heard yesterday.

James Muscat said Mr Tanti, who is accused of murdering his girlfriend and former student, Lisa Marie Zahra, 15, told him she was “17 going on 18” and had become increasingly reclusive when they started dating.

He was testifying in the compilation of evidence against Mr Tanti, 23, who is pleading not guilty to murdering Ms Zahra and assisting her to commit suicide by jumping off Dingli Cliffs last March 19.

He is also charged with defiling her, participating in sexual acts with the minor and being in possession of indecent images of her.

Mr Muscat said he and Mr Tanti had a company and organised stand-up comedy nights. He said that in November 2013 Mr Tanti had told him he was “seeing” a girl but never mentioned her by name.

In January last year, Mr Muscat said Mr Tanti invited him and his partner for dinner at his place in Valletta and that was the first time he met Ms Zahra.

He said he recalled Mr Tanti telling him that his girlfriend’s father was “a powerful man” and had given him the impression that he was scared of the father.

The day before the tragedy, Mr Tanti called him to thank him for his friendship.

Mr Muscat said that, one day, he was at his house and realised that Mr Tanti had what looked like self-inflicted wounds on his forearm. He said he had told Mr Tanti he did not want him doing anything stupid like that anymore or their friendship would be over.

Under cross examination, Mr Muscat said Mr Tanti and Ms Zahra looked happy together and he was crazy over her.

The sitting became somewhat noisy when the dead teen’s private maths tutor testified on how “lovable and bubbly” her student was, with the defence questioning the relevance of her testimony. Lawyer Joe Giglio said that, apart from the close contact she had with Ms Zahra and the conversations they had, the aim was also to show how a teacher was supposed to behave with students.

Defence lawyer Michael Sciriha took exception to comments Marlene Bugeja made to try to draw a comparison with Mr Tanti but was quickly stopped by Magistrate Audrey Demicoli.

“I cannot understand how this Cliff Dingli...” she said, in reference to a pseudonym Mr Tanti had used during a drama lesson.

Dr Sciriha encouraged her to continue and she wondered how it was possible that Mr Tanti did not feel anything for what happened. However, the magistrate angrily reprimanded her.

The De La Salle College teacher said she gave Ms Zahra private lessons since 2012 and, during short breaks, Ms Zahra spoke to her about stories related to her travels. She said Ms Zahra was also planning her prom and what she would wear on the night. She had shown her photographs of the dress she wanted and told her how she wanted to wear a pair of Dr Martens.

“She was a bubbly and very intelligent person. She was also very sensitive and chose a ferret that was blind in one eye as a pet,” she said. Ms Bugeja testified that on the Sunday before the tragedy the girl had asked her whether she was married and whether she would invite her to her wedding.

She recalled that on the day she died Ms Zahra did not turn up for her 3pm lesson. Later that evening, another student of hers called her up and informed her of the tragic event.

“I was devastated. I am not a relative but still you could not help but love Lisa. She was so bubbly and lively... When I heard that she had committed suicide, it just did not make sense because she had been planning her future.”

Under cross examination, Ms Bugeja said Ms Zahra had never spoken to her about any difficulties she was facing except those related to maths.

Dr Sciriha took exception to her short, abrupt replies, to the extent that he said she was being “arrogant”. He said he had never seen such things happening in court in 30 years of legal practice.

The case continues.

Police inspectors Keith Arnaud and Josric Mifsud are prosecuting.

Lawyers Giannella de Marco, Joseph Giglio and Stephen Tonna Lowell are appearing parte civile for the Zahra family.

Lawyers Michael and Lucio Sciriha are defence counsel.