A Libyan man accused of murdering the mother of his two daughters yesterday had his bail request denied by a judge after the court heard just how “arrogant and cocky” he was to police during investigations.

Nizar El Gadi, 34, is facing charges of murdering his 31-year-old lawyer wife, Margaret Mifsud.

Police Inspector Keith Arnaud yesterday testified that the accused had provoked and threatened a police officer, telling him that he would find him on the street and get revenge.

The inspector used the incident to make his case that the man could not be trusted with bail, following a request by his lawyers.

Dr Mifsud had been found dead in her Daihatsu Sirion on April 19 after spending the previous evening with friends at a restaurant in Xemxija.

In the sitting yesterday, Mr El Gadi’s lawyer, Martin Testaferrata Moroni Viani, who filed the bail request, did not show up, leaving his client to testify and make his own submissions about why he deserved bail.

Mr El Gadi told Mr Justice Lawrence Quintano that in the separate case where he also stands accused of trying to strangle Dr Mifsud, he was granted bail and that he would not want to leave his two young children fatherless.

Mr Justice Quintano noted that Mr El Gadi did not have custody of his children, who were now living with Dr Mifsud’s parents, and that there might be tampering with evidence if he is let out on bail.

Lawyer Arthur Azzopardi appeared for the victim’s family.