Updated 4pm
Bernice Cassar was carrying a file full of documents related to her case before the Family Court when she was shot dead by her estranged husband in Corradino, a court was told on Tuesday.
The thick light-blue file retrieved from her car was presented in court by one of the prosecuting officers in the compilation of evidence against Roderick Cassar, who is pleading not guilty to femicide.
The file included receipts, emails, copies of screenshots as well as copies of police reports filed by Bernice Cassar in the days preceding her murder last November.
A copy of the mediation file concerning the Cassar couple was presented in evidence after being duly authorized by the judge from the Family Court.
The victim's lawyer, Marita Pace Dimech, had filed a letter to initiate mediation on May 17 last year.
Following that, an application was filed seeking the father’s consent relating to the schooling of the couple’s daughter.
That application, which was subsequently withdrawn when the accused granted his consent, appeared to be missing from the mediation file presented on Tuesday, Pace Dimech pointed out.
The prosecution thus asked the court to authorise a copy of that application so as to ensure that the full mediation records are presented in evidence.
Meanwhile, the accused’s lawyers minuted their objection to the family court documents, arguing that those were inadmissible in evidence.
However, since the family judge had authorised the copy to be produced, presiding Magistrate Joseph Mifsud allowed the paperwork to be presented, observing that issue of their admissibility would be tackled by the defence at a later stage.
Inspector Wayne Camilleri also formally exhibited both the victim’s vehicle as well as the accused’s Toyota Ractis on Tuesday.
A court-appointed motor vehicle expert presented his report on the findings of damages incurred by the victim’s car on the day of the murder.
The glass window on the driver’s side was smashed, with glass scattered on the seat and dashboard.
The cost to clear up the glass pieces and replace the broken window amounted to €221.
The prosecution, led by AG lawyer Angele Vella, requested the court to extend the expert’s brief so that he could assess other damages to the victim’s car, allegedly caused by the accused in other incidents leading up to the day of the shooting.
The case continues.
Inspectors Shaun Pawney, Wayne Camilleri and Paul Camilleri prosecuted, together with AG lawyer Angele Vella.
Lawyers Franco Debono, Arthur Azzopardi, Francesca Zarb and Jacob Magri are defence counsel.
Lawyers Stefano Filletti, Marita Pace Dimech, Anne Marie Cutajar and Rodianne Sciberras appeared parte civile.