A magisterial inquiry into the Seabank collapse that killed a Latvian construction worker in March cannot be wrapped up because experts have not yet submitted their reports, The Times has learnt.

Magistrate Carol Peralta told the Attorney General he was still awaiting reports from court experts Richard Aquilina, Alex Torpiano, Mario Scerri and Ali Salfraz on various aspects of the case, sources said.

Court expert reports are meant to be drawn up within a month but sources said it was becoming increasingly common for such delays to occur.

Despite several reminders, the four experts failed to produce their reports in time, the sources said.

Two months ago, the Attorney General questioned Dr Peralta about the inquiry delay.

The case was originally assigned to Magistrate Jacqueline Padovani but was transferred to Dr Peralta after she was appointed judge in May.

According to article 550A of the Criminal Code, magistrates must produce a report explaining why inquiries have not been concluded after 60 days.

Last week marked six months since the death of 27-year-old Maksims Artamonovs, a construction worker engaged in the renovation of the Seabank Hotel who died when an unfinished structure earmarked for a nightclub collapsed with him underneath.

The search for his body took almost 24 hours. Mr Artamonovs was his family’s sole breadwinner.