Three men accused of killing Daphne Caruana Galizia were back in court on Friday morning, as the compilation of evidence against them resumed. A contested IT expert who was meant to testify was unable to make it to the sitting.

Minute-by-minute:

10.40am: Before the court room is vacated, prosecution and the defence discuss a different kind of problem - the boats being held under police custody are creating a storage issue.

They agree that the Maya is to be removed to another safe place that has approval of the court.

10.38am: The next sitting is scheduled for March 7.

10.35am: The court decides that at the next sitting, a Vodafone representative is to testify about the data-gathering process.

10.30am: A Vodafone lawyer explains that the defence had requested processing of data from cell towers. This involved compiling massive storage of data, something which never been done before.

Inspector Arnaud says that that information had already been supplied by Vodafone.

"It’s like having footage of passing traffic, playing it and counting the number of cars driving by," Insp. Arnaud says.

Both sides are now arguing over the Vodafone data.

The Maya, owned by suspect George Degiorgio.

10.22am: Defence lawyer asks Capt. Lanfranco to clarify his report which identified one of the accused as being present on the Maya, the boat from which the bomb is believed to have been detonated. 

"In the footage we could not quite identify the person," witness says, adding "it could have been him, that’s why I put that part in brackets".

10.18am: Inspector Keith Arnaud informs the court room that contested witness Martin Bajada cannot attend today's sitting. Capt. Reuben Lanfranco from the AFM takes to the witness stand. 

10.15am: Forty-five minutes later, the accused are brought into the court room. Their handcuffs are removed, amid tight security.

9.50am: The sitting was scheduled to start at 9.30 am but the magistrate is hearing another case dealing with the illicit cigarette trade. 

9.33am: The family of the slain journalist, the prosecution and lawyers enter the courtroom. But the accused are nowhere to be seen. 

9.30am: Friday morning's session has already been hotly contested before it started. A judge on Thursday rejected yet another attempt to stop court-appointed IT expert Martin Bajada from testifying in the ongoing compilation of evidence against the three men. Alfred Degiorgio, one of the accused, filed a constitutional application two days ago claiming that his right to a fair hearing would be breached if the expert was allowed to testify.

The controversy stems from a 1993 case where Dr Bajada was convicted of theft and fraud by the UK courts.

However, his position as expert was green lighted by a decision of the superior courts in 2017.

9.15am: In the last sitting two weeks ago, the almost three-hour session featured some ill-tempered exchanges between lawyers and the bench, with defence lawyer William Cuschieri in particular getting into some heated conversations at times.

Read: Lawyers argue as Daphne murder suspects return to court

A suspect exits the courts in Valletta on December 6, 2017, after being charged with the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia.

Background: 

Degiorgio brothers Alfred and George and Vince Muscat face charges of having planted and detonated the bomb which killed the journalist in October 2017.

Court experts have testified about a boat spotted entering and exiting the Grand Harbour on the day of the murder, which investigators say is Alfred Degiorgio’s Maya.

Police witnesses also testified about items they had confiscated from a Żebbuġ site on the day police had arrested the three suspects.

The three suspects have filed separate proceedings against authorities, saying their arrest and searches of their homes had breached their fundamental rights.

The key players:

Magistrate Claire Stafrace Zammit is presiding.

Lawyer Martin Fenech is appearing for Vince Muscat, known as il-Koħħu, 55.

Lawyers William Cuschieri and Martha Muscat are representing Alfred Degiorgio, known as il-Fulu, 53.

Lawyer Josette Sultana is appearing for Alfred's brother George Degiorgio, known as iċ-Ċiniz, 55.

Philip Galea Farrugia from the Attorney General's office and inspectors Keith Arnaud and Kurt Zahra are prosecuting.

Lawyers Jason Azzopardi and Eve Borg Costanzi are appearing parte civile.