A man who fatally shot his partner's father in Kalkara last month also hit the victim so hard with the gun that the barrel was bent.

The aggressor then lit a cigarette and hid the gun in manure.

More details of the murder were given in court this morning during the compilation of evidence against Gregorio (Godwin) Scicluna who stands accused of murdering Joseph Caruana, 61 in front of his daughter Simone Caruana and her children.

The incident was sparked by an argument over a digital camera. The murder took place on October 27 in Scicluna's house.

Taking the witness stand, Police Inspector Keith Arnaud said that there had been problems between Gregorio and his partner Simone and they were going through separation proceedings. She had recently left the matrimonial home, taking the children.

The police received a preliminary report of the murder from PC Brian Grech, who lived close to Scicluna's house.

PC Grech had reported that at around 10.30am he heard shots being fired. Simone, covered in blood and holding a daughter then knocked frantically on the door of his house, calling for help.

He let them in and called an ambulance, as both were injured. He then went to Scicluna's house and found Joseph Caruana dead, face down in the internal courtyard.

He also found Scicluna smoking a cigarette.  As they walked out, Scicluna picked up the butt of the gun and threw it up on the roof.

There was blood in the kitchen and the courtyard.

Caruana had been shot in the lower back and also had five significant head wounds where he was hit with the butt of the gun. The blows were so hard that the gun broke, the inspector said.

The police found three spent cartridges. The barrel of the gun was hidden in manure near some stables.

Simone Caruana told the police that she had known Scicluna for nine years and they had four children. They split and she moved in with her a parents but then moved on her own.

She told the police that her partner used to beat her up and threaten to kill her. She had filed a police report on October 16 this year after he threatened to put her in a cemetery, telling her he was ready to go to prison again (He was previously jailed over a shooting).

Her parents initially did not know what was going on, but soon found out. She knew that Scicluna's gun was unlicensed and but did not file a police report about it to keep the peace.

There were never any problems between her parents and Scicluna, but he did not like the fact that they were helping her out.

On the day in question she went to Scicluna's home so that he could see the children.  He had cooked a rabbit for them. There was no problems in the morning and the children had lunch.

Then her father called to say he would pick them up. At that point a heated argument broke out over a digital camera which belonged to her and Scicluna smashed it on the floor. She got very angry.

He got the gun and pointed it at her. She dashed under a kitchen table and then managed to grab the  barrel of the gun. They both struggled for the weapon.

As they struggled she told one of her daughters to get out and warn her father (the child's grandfather).

When he arrived he also tried to grab the gun from Scicluna.

Simone grabbed one of the children and started to run out. She turned and saw her father being shot. As he fell he told her to run out as fast as she could.

Another shot was fired and pellets hit her and her daughter. She ran to her neighbour's house. 

Inspector Arnaud said it later resulted to the police that after the shooting, Scicluna bashed Caruana on the head with the gun.

In a statement to the police, Scicluna had admitted to grabbing the gun and firing a shot, but did not remember anything else.

The case continues.

Michael and Lucio Schriha and Mark Attard Montalto are defence counsel.