Court outburst: distraught father Tony Zahra. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli

A distraught father had to be restrained by police when he charged towards the dock while testifying in the case of a 23-year-old charged with the murder of his teenage daughter.

“You killed my daughter. You killed my daughter... f****** b******”, Tony Zahra exclaimed as his lawyers and police officers prevented him from reaching the accused.

Mr Zahra was being questioned about his reaction when he found out that a man had been inside his home with his 15-year-old daughter.

There was a moment of silence before Mr Zahra turned and, pointing at Erin Tanti, his daughter’s drama teacher, shouted: “You abused my daughter. You broke into my house and abused my daughter.”

As they tried to calm Mr Zahra down, Mr Tanti was led out of the courtroom and taken downstairs to the lock-up in an effort to restore order.

Mr Tanti is pleading not guilty to the murder of Ms Zahra on March 19 and assisting her to commit suicide at Dingli Cliffs.

Why did you kill her? You could have taken everything from me but her... tell me why

He is also charged with defiling her, participating in sexual acts and being in possession of indecent images of the girl. Once the witness had calmed down, he continued to give evidence and Mr Tanti was brought back to the dock.

When asked whether he wanted to add anything to his testimony, Mr Zahra looked at Mr Tanti and said in a raised voice as he slammed his fist on the witness stand: “Why did you kill her? You could have taken everything from me but her. Why did you kill her? Tell me why.”

He was then led away through the magistrate’s chambers to keep him as far away from Mr Tanti as possible.

His brother, hotelier Winston Zahra Sr, who was sitting in the public gallery, stood up as if to follow but he suddenly turned round and made an attempt to strike Mr Tanti.

He was prevented from doing so by police and quickly left the courtroom.

Accused in tears as dad gives testimony

In his evidence, Mr Zahra said he had two children, Nicholas, 37, and Lisa Maria. Her mother, Carmen, died from cancer when she was just two years old. His wife had died at home as he felt she would be more comfortable there.

Mr Tanti cried and wiped away tears after removing his spectacles while Mr Zahra was testifying.

Lisa Maria was looked after over the weekends by her grandmother and aunt so her mother’s memory could be kept alive. He also employed a full-time nanny to look after her while he was at work.

Like any teenage girl she did too much shopping

Lisa Maria attended Chiswick House School and then moved to St Martin’s and eventually to St Michael’s where his niece worked, Mr Zahra said. He tried to protect her from getting hurt when she saw friends with their mothers.

Asked about her plans for the future, Mr Zahra presented school certificates showing how she had achieved distinction in her drama and music studies, something she would discuss regularly with him.

She attended Masquerade drama school and looked forward to going to sixth form. In February, she wanted to go to London. They watched the play War Horse and went shopping.

She bought summer and autumn clothing, Mr Zahra recalled, adding with a smile that like any teenage girl she did too much shopping. When his daughter was 12, Mr Zahra recounted how he had been concerned after he had been told Lisa Maria was engaging in self-harm. He spoke to mental health professionals who told him that while it was a concern, it was not uncommon.

In the last few months of her life, her psychologist had said he no longer needed to see her every six weeks because the girl had made significant progress and she would soon have to sit for her O-level exams.

While in Qatar, Mr Zahra received a call saying a car had been parked outside his home through the night and CCTV footage showed a person leaving at 6am. He gave instructions for her mobile to be taken and for someone to stay with her. Asked if he was acting on fatherly instinct, this is when he was overcome with emotion and lunged at Mr Tanti.

He could not get over his grief. He went to sleep thinking of her and woke up thinking of her.

Forensic pathologist Mario Scerri said that the deceased had experienced what was known as cadaveric spasm, when the hands were clenched. This was a rare occurrence and indicated intense fear, something that was normally seen in soldiers on the front line.

Mr Tanti had abrasions and fractured ribs, compatible with a fall from a height, he added.

The case continues in July.