Two men who in 2009 organised a dive to raise funds for charity were today accused in court of the involuntary homicide of a 25-year-old woman who died during a dive off Fra Ben, Qawra, during the event.

The court ordered a ban on names and details because of the sensitivity of the case and because this is close to Christmas, when the charity raises funds.

Forensic Pathologist Mario Scerri this morning handed a report to the court, saying the victim had volunteered for the dive. She had descended some three metres before she most likely panicked and drowned.

Another doctor, Alan Drago, said he had examined the victim, but she was dead on arrival at hospital.

The victim's boyfriend said that on the day a doctor certified him on site to be fit for the dive after examination. No examination of his girlfriend was made as she was told that once she had not declared any prior medical problems, she was safe to dive.

Asked if his girlfriend knew that her father had a particular condition of the nerves, the man said she did know and she once attended a counselling session with a psychologist, even though she did not know whether she actually had inherited it.

On the day, he said, they got into the water and found visibility to be bad. As they descended she was immediately behind him. At one point he turned and she was not there.

He began looking her and found four people near by, an instructor, his assistant and two other divers.

When he surfaced, he heard cries for help and realised that the others were trying to keep his girlfriend on the surface but they had problems because of her lead belt. She was eventually lifted to the quay. She was unconscious.

A doctor and other people tried to revive her and people applauded twice when water came out of her mouth as they thought she had come round, but he saw no life in her.

The organisers are pleading not guilty.

Lawyers Michael Schriha and Michael Tanti Dougall are defence counsel.