Kenneth Gafà', 38, a well known jockey at the Marsa racecourse, was arraigned in court this afternoon and charged with the murder of his former partner Christina Sammut, 40, last Saturday.

Ms Sammut died in hospital an hour after she was shot twice in the neck while waiting in her van. She had reportedly gone there to meet her new boyfriend.

Gafa', whose main occupation is that of a bus driver, turned himself in at Hamrun police station soon after the shooting took place.

He was taken to court in an unmarked police car and hid his face as the vehicle was driven into the garage of the law courts building under the glare of photographers' flash lights.

Mr Gafa' pleaded not guilty to shooting Ms Sammut, illegal possession of a firearm, shooting in an inhabited area, threatening Ms Sammut and her sister Susanne and relapsing.

There was no request for bail.

Mr Gafa' also has a pending case of alleged harassment of Ms Sammut.

Drs Manwel Mallia and Arthur Azzopardi appeared parte civile for the Sammut family while Dr Gianluca Caruana Curran and Steve Tonna Lowell were defence counsel. Gianella Caruana Curran and Joseph Giglio are also representing Mr Gafa'.