The compilation of evidence against Erin Tanti, the drama teacher accused of the March 19 murder of his student Lisa Marie Zahra, 15, continued amid tension this morning, with her father at one time having to be restrained by the police when he lunged at the accused.

Mr Tanti, 23, is pleading not guilty to murder and assisting Ms Zahra to commit suicide when she jumped off Dingli Cliffs.

During his testimony, Lisa-Marie’s father Tony Zahra spoke on his daughter’s life.

He recounted how his wife died when their daughter was just two.

When the girl was 12, he was informed by the school that Lisa-Marie was harming herself. She started seeing a psychologist and a psychiatrist and good progress was achieved.

“She was doing well at school and in her exams, her prospects for the future were bright,” Mr Zahra said.

He recounted how teachers spoke highly of his daughter during parents’ day and how they had enjoyed themselves on a three-day visit to London in February.

When his daughter was younger, he used to prepare her school lunch, Mr Zahra said.

Suddenly, Mr Zahra stopped his testimony in a fit of emotion, got down from the witness box and rushed at Mr Tanti, shouting at him : "you broke into my house and abused my daughter". He also called Mr Tanti "bastard".

Mr Tanti and Mr Zahra were both taken out of the courtroom.

When the sitting resumed, Mr Zahra said that last March 18, while he was in Dubai, his housekeeper phoned him to say that a car had been outside his house all night. He was told that Mr Tanti had been in the house.

Mr Zahra said he immediately made arrangements to return to Malta. When he returned, he was told that his daughter was missing. Then the police informed him that she was dead.

At this point, Mr Zahra again turned to Mr Tanti and asked him: Why did you kill my daughter, that is what I want to know. You could have taken all my belongings, why did you take my daughter?”

Winston Zahra, the victim’s uncle, was also heard shouting at the accused and was about to punch him when he was restrained by the police.

Another witness this morning was court-appointed expert Mario Scerri who said he had examined Mr Tanti and Ms Zahra’s body.

Both had injuries that were compatible with a fall from a height. Ms Zahra had a lot of abrasions.

Lisa Marie’s injuries showed she was conscious when she fell. There was a lot of grass and some sticks on her clothing and her skull was cracked. She had also suffered from cadaveric spasm, which was very rare, and was associated with great fear.

Read report of proceedings at http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20140603/local/live-blog-cliffs-fall-victim-was-conscious-when-she-fell-expert.521749