Updated: Judge orders witness to be detained

 A woman who this afternoon gave court evidencein the trial of a man charged with her partner's murder  has been detained in isolation overnight  after the presiding  judge suspected that she was not tellingthe whole truth.

Tomorrow,  Carmen Portelli Bouvett will be called to thestand for a second time to continue giving evidence in the trial of RaymondCamilleri, 43, of Zurrieq, who is standing trial for the murder of her24-year-old partner Christopher Camilleri on October 6, 1999.

Ms Portelli Bouvett  in her evidence today  explained that at the time of the incident shelived in a Zurrieq apartment with Christopher Camilleri who she had been withfor seven years.

Initially their relationship was goodbut for the last year shewanted to leave him but he did not want to accept it.

"Christopher had a good character but at the end he started drinkingwhenever I tried to break up," she said, adding that the way he behaved when hedrank depended on the way she behaved towards him. When she was aggressive, hegot angry but he would calm down soon after.

 She added that there were moments when theywould hit one another. She hurled things at him in an attempt to drive him awayfrom her but it did not work.

On the morning of the incidentChristopher Camilleri had been upset and kept asking where their relationshipwas headed. She explained that she loved him but she was bored and did not wantto be with him.

That night they had an argument, he left the house and went to drink.When he returned home, he had drank but he had a clear mind.

 They started arguing again and she tried tokick him out but he did not want to leave.

"So I ended up leaving house wearing mypyjamas... It was about 10 p.m... I wanted to avoid more problems and himhitting me."

Some time later the police arrived andthey spoke to ChristopherCamilleri and he eventually left their home. But some time later he went backwith cigarettes in hand.

She threw the cigarettes on the floorand told him to leave. As he was walking out they heard a noise and looked outto see that Raymond Camilleri had crashed into his car. Christopher went outside and she went to tend to their child.

Then she heard a loud bang and lookedout of the window. She thoughtit was a burst tyre.

"I saw Christopher hold his leg. Iasked what was wrong. Then I saw Raymond emerge from behind a car and shoot himin the side with a shot gun... I ran downstairs. I pushed Raymond Camilleri. Hetold me to go inside and not to interfere so that he gets what he deserves. Islapped him. He did not hit me back. I took the gun and tried to fire but Icould barely hold it. Raymond took the gun from my hand and shot him in theback," she said adding she had heard five shots.

Attorney General representative ArthurAzzopardi, prosecuting,  asked to make alegal point behind closed doors so jurors and members of the public were asked to leave the courtroom.

When they were called back in MsPortelli Bouvett was cautioned and asked to start her testimony from thebeginning. She gave evidence again and explained that she knew RaymondCamilleri to be a quiet man from whom she bought vegetables. During the four-and-a-half-yearsthat she lived in Zurrieqshe and Christopher Camilleri never had a problem with Raymond Camilleri. Againshe recounted how she had slapped Raymond Camilleri and tried to take his gunduring the shooting.

At this point she was asked why she hadnever mentioned this incident when she testified at an earlier stage of thecourt proceedings and again was cautioned to tell the truth.

Dr Azzopardi asked her if she had seenthe news about the trial the previous day. Shesaid she had watched the 5.30 p.m. news and had remembered all about the incident.

As she insisted that she had tried totake the gun from the accused,the judge warned her about the serious consequences of lying under oath. Again, the court room was cleared -this time on request of the defence.

When the jurors and public were calledback in the judge cautioned her a last time and - in line with Article 522 ofthe Criminal Code - ordered that she be detained at the law courts until tomorrowmorning at 9 a.m. when she will be called to the stand again.

Lawyers Giannella Caruana Curran andEmmanuel Mallia are defence counsel while lawyer Owen Bonnici is appearing inparte civile.