A 33-year-old Libyan has been remanded in custody after he pleaded not guilty to murdering 31-year-old lawyer Margaret Mifsud on April 18.

Nizar Mustafa Al-Gadi was Dr Mifsud's former partner and father of her two girls.

He was also charged with committing the crime during the operative period of a suspended sentence, being in possession of a stolen iPhone and being a relapser.

Her handbag was not found in the car, even though colleagues told the police she was carrying a bag during a farewell party in Xemxija the night before. Her mobile phone and purse were also missing.
 
After dropping a friend off in Buġibba at about 11.30 p.m. on April 18, Dr Mifsud was meant to return to Birkirkara, where she lived with her parents and daughters, but she never got home. The following morning, her mother reported her missing and her body was found at about 2 p.m. during a routine police patrol.
 
An autopsy indicated she might not have died of natural causes, as was initially thought, but the results were deemed inconclusive.
 
The investigations into her death revolved around Mr Al-Gadi with whom she had a troubled relationship.
 
For some time he was being treated as the prime suspect but the police did not have enough evidence against him.

Earlier, he was charged with trying to strangle the woman three weeks before the murder, illegally arresting her, slightly injuring her and threatening to kill her and their children.