Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/340052
maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 2 JULY 2014 3 News DANIEL MIZZI AND CHRIS MANGION A minor called to testify in the case against 23-year-old supply teacher Erin Tanti was yesterday heard be- hind closed doors after Magistrate Audrey Demicoli upheld a request by the lawyers of the victim's family. Tanti is accused of murdering and assisting in the suicide of his 15- year-old pupil, Lisa Marie Zahra, who jumped off Dingli Cliffs last March. The supply teacher, who has plead- ed not guilty, is also accused of de- filement of the pupil, corrupting her, abuse of a position of trust, misuse of technology, and possession of in- decent material involving minors. The minor called to give evidence, whose details cannot be published by court order, testified via video conference. Lawyers Giannella de Marco and Joe Giglio, appearing in parte civile for the Zahra family, requested that the proceedings be heard behind closed doors due to her "sensitive testimony." The victim's family also argued that the issue is a matter of "mo- rality" concerning the minor, and requested that the court ban the de- tails of the minor. While the request for the ban of the details was instantly accepted by Magistrate Audrey Demicoli, the defence's request for the sitting to be heard behind closed doors was not accepted, with the court saying there is no legal provision allow- ing one witness to be heard behind closed doors while the rest are sub- ject to the public eye. But after the defence expressed no objection to the request of the law- yers of the victim's family, Magis- trate Demicoli accepted the request, quoting Article 531 of the Criminal Code which states that "the court may hold its sittings with closed doors in cases where the proceed- ings might be offensive to modesty, or might cause scandal." Yesterday's sitting also saw the court reappoint IT expert Stephen Farrugia Sacco to download Lisa Marie Zahra's conversations on the social media website ask.fm. In addi- tion, psychiatrist Leanne Camilleri testified that when the police arrived at the hospital to interrogate Tanti, he was in a fit state and able to an- swer the police's questions. On the night of 18-19 March, Tanti picked up Zahra from her house and the two then switched off their mo- bile phones before driving to Dingli Cliffs. The two were believed to have drunk half a bottle of whisky, swal- lowed aspirin, and then jumped. They were discovered on a ledge down Dingli Cliffs. 15-year-old Zahra – daughter of businessman Anthony Zahra – died in the fall after suffering head fractures and multiple joint frac- tures. Tanti is said to have jumped after Zahra, but was said to have woken up later "in great pain", and attempted to crawl back. At a previous sitting, Tanti said he feared being arrested by the police after the Zahra fam- ily found out he was having a sexual relationship with the pupil. Despite initially denying having sexual re- lations with her, he later admitted after being faced with photos found in his mobile phone of him and the girl, naked in bed. The case has been adjourned to August 14 at 10:30am. Lawyers Joe Giglio, Giannella de Marco, Steve Tonna Lowell and Reuben Farrugia are appearing in parte civile for the Zahra family. Lawyers Michael and Lucio Sciriha are appearing for Erin Tanti. In- spectors Keith Arnaud, Josric Mif- sud and Sylvana Briffa are pros- ecuting. Minor's testimony heard behind closed doors Compilation of evidence against 23-year-old supply teacher Erin Tanti heard behind closed doors after court upholds request by defence due to the age of the minor and the sensitivity of the case PHOTO BY MARTIN AGIUS/IN-NAZZJON Erin Tanti