The sister of a murder victim yesterday apologised in court for comments she made about the accused in a letter.

Martin Scicluna was shot twice in the head at point blank range at the office of his company, All Sports International, in Qormi on September 16.

Grace Scicluna had written a letter to Dione Mercieca making a series of allegations in connection with the argument that had led to the death of her brother.

Yesterday she made an apology in court.

The contents of the letter have not been disclosed but an angry Magistrate Miriam Hayman told Ms Scicluna she would not tolerate any similar behaviour. "If I see another letter of the sort you'll be found guilty of contempt of court," she said.

Such comments hurt people, the magistrate told her.

"I was hurt too," Ms Scicluna replied.

"This is not how the course of justice works," Magistrate Hayman shot back.

Last February, Mr Mercieca was given permission to travel in connection with a contract that bound the company he shared with the victim to lay artificial turf on a number of football pitches during a two-month business trip to West Africa.

He eventually cancelled his travel plans.

However, Mr Scicluna's relatives did not agree with the court's decision and Ms Scicluna spoke out during a telephone interview carried on One News, after which she wrote the letter.

Following the comments made on radio, Mr Mercieca sued Ms Scicluna and former One News editor Miriam Dalli and claimed the allegations were aimed at tarnishing his reputation and putting him in a bad light.

The accused is out on bail.