A woman who was the last to see lawyer Margaret Mifsud before she was killed told jurors today that she began to tremble when her friend’s mother called her at 4am to tell her she had not returned home that night.

Astrid Bonnici said she and Dr Mifsud had gone to her (Ms Bonnici's) farewell party at Xemxija the night before she was found dead and she had driven her home at around 11.30pm.

“I began to tremble when Margaret’s mother called me at 4am to ask me whether I knew why she had not returned home that night,” she said, fighting to hold back her tears.

She was testifying during the trial by jury of Libyan national Nizar El-Gadi, 36, who stands charged with killing Dr Mifsud on April 19, 2012. Her body was discovered in her car in Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq.

During today’s sitting, jurors were shown a series of photographs taken by scene of the crime officers who were appointed by the inquiring magistrate. They were also shown photographs of Dr Mifsud autopsy.

Police Sergeants Ivan Camilleri and Theo Vella showed jurors images of Dr Mifsud’s lifeless body in her car, with blood oozing from her nose.

Her car keys were on the floor under the driver’s seat of the blue Daihatsu Sirion while deposits of dried mud could be seen on the floor mats on the passenger side and the seat of the vehicle.

Mr El Gadi showed no emotions while the photographs of his dead estranged wife were shown on the large screen.

The receptionist of the Eurostar Hotel where Mr El Gadi was living back then, told jurors that on the day of the murder, Mr El Gadi had returned at around 3.30am and left against three hours later, something he said was “unusual”.

The trial continues tomorrow.

Judge Antonio Mizzi is presiding. Lawyers Philip Galea Farrugia and Giannella Busuttil are prosecuting. Lawyer Martin Testaferata Moroni Viani is defending the accused, while lawyer Kathleen Grima and Arthur Azzopardi are appearing parte civile for the victim’s family.