The trial by jury of a Libyan man accused of murdering his wife continued today with jurors listening to the entire seven-hour recording of the defendant’s police interrogation.

This was followed by the cross examination of Police Inspector Keith Arnaud by defence lawyer Martin Testaferrata Moroni Viani who accused the police of having been too eager to solve the crime that it proceeded with the arraignment before any of the court experts had concluded their reports.

As he explained that this was standard practice, the inspector assured the defence and the jurors that it only charged Nazar El Gadi with murder after it had enough evidence linking him to the murder.

Mr El Gadi stands charged with murdering lawyer Margaret Mifsud on April 19, 2012. The victim was found dead in her car in Baħar ic-Ċagħaq. Experts said that her killer applied heavy pressure on her chest causing her to die of asphyxia.

Dr Testaferrata Moroni Viani accused Inspector Arnaud of being too eager to solve the case as quick as possible to have “another notch on your stick”. He was, however, quickly corrected by presiding Judge Antonio Mizzi, who told him he had “gone overboard”.

The witness was asked if the police had released a press report, identifying the murder victim and identifying the suspect as the victim’s partner before the accused had been arrested. But the inspector said he was far too busy investigating the crime at the time.

The inspector said that he could not rule out speculation by the media, emphasising that this type of speculation was always harmful to police investigations.

The trial continues tomorrow.

Lawyers Philip Galea Farrugia and Giannella Busuttil from the Attorney General’s Office are leading the prosecution.

Lawyers Arthur Azzopardi and Kathleen Grima are appearing parte civile for the victim’s family.