The knife allegedly used in the murder of a Serbian man at a Buġibba flat in 2014 was found at the bottom of a narrow plastic drainage pipe, after its cover was noted to be missing.
However, fingerprints lifted from the handle were not clear enough to compile a profile that could be used to compare with those of a Bulgarian man standing trial on this murder.
Construction worker Emil Atanasov, who lives in Saint Paul’s Bay, is pleading not guilty to the wilful homicide of Krstic Dragoljub, inflicting grievous bodily harm on Zoran Jocic and carrying a knife during the commission of a crime.
The defendant is claiming to have acted in self-defence, saying that he was attacked during an argument which erupted late at night over loud music being played at their apartment.
The jury had previously been told that the landlord had switched off the mains supply after repeatedly asking the men to stop making noise that night.
The victim's body was found face up, in a narrow stairwell between the first and second floors at a block of apartments in Triq il-Merluzz in Buġibba.
During this morning's sitting of the trial by jury, which started last Monday, officers testified that an empty leather knife sheath was found in the accused's bedroom, Six large empty cans of beer were also found on the dining table.
Jurors were also shown a number of photographs related to the fatal stabbing, some of which showed the accused spattered with blood with a facial laceration near his right temple.
Architect Richard Aquilina presented a report of his site inspection of the block of flats where the fatal stabbing took place. Cross-examined by lawyer Malcolm Mifsud, the witness said he had not been asked by the police to note the location of the electricity main switch. The judge pointed out that this location would be confirmed during the on site inquiry.
Earlier Zoran Jocic's account of what happened, which he had given during compilation of evidence was read out.
“Dragoljub and I had gone to play a game of pool... the Macedonian was there... Since there had been a power cut and we could not play music, we started singing Macedonian songs...”
With reference to the accused, Mr Jocic had said that he did not know why he had joined them as he had not been part of their group. The accused had “a kind of fight” with the victim.
Mr Jocic explained that he had gone to get help as he saw the victim in great pain.
Judge Antonio Mizzi is presiding the trial. Assistant Attorney General Philip Galea Farrugia and lawyer Elaine Mercieca are prosecuting. Lawyer Malcolm Mifsud is defence counsel to Atanasov.