A woman who has admitted to making up sex abuse allegations against her father told a court that although she was "kicked out" of the house by her mother, she still felt compelled to maintain contact with her.

Leanne Camilleri, 21, took the witness stand to testify against her mother, Lisa May Camilleri, who is pleading not guilty to perjury and instigating her daughter into giving false evidence.

Ms Camilleri’s estranged husband, Emanuel, spent nearly 400 days in prison after he was found guilty in 2012 of defiling his daughter several years earlier when she was 10.

Last year, the 21-year-old had admitted to lying under oath and was placed on probation for three years and ordered to carry out 100 hours of community service.

Testifying in court today, Ms Camilleri said her mother had "brainwashed" her to the extent that she had become depressed with the web of lies she was forced to weave.

Magistrate Ian Farrugia heard how her mother had kicked her out of the house two years ago and she was welcomed into the Siggiewi home of a generous, loving family.

"This family showed me what love is. I never knew what love meant - the people who were supposed to love me, didn't do so. They shattered me."

Conducting the cross-examination, lawyer Martin Fenech pressed Ms Camilleri on why she persisted in maintaining contact with her mother despite the fact that she was angry with her for kicking her out, that she had been welcomed into a loving family, and she was in a happy relationship.

Ms Camilleri had previously said that she had not changed her phone number and made no effort to severe ties with her mother, deciding to keep her updated on the court proceedings.

Seeming unable to give a straightforward answer, Ms Camilleri momentarily stopped to compose herself and said that she felt "pressured" to do so, repeating the phrase continuously every time the question was re-phrased.

Asked whether she was aware that her father had not paid her mother child support, Ms Camilleri said she was not.

"My mum would tell me she would pay me back if I didn't stick to her version. She would tell me a lot of things. I felt as if my mum possessed me. I couldn't take it anymore. I was frightened."

Lawyer Tonio Azzopardi appeared parte civile for the father. Maxilene Pace is legal counsel to Leanne