The 27-year-old Polish man accused of murdering 31-year-old Moroccan national Abdellatif Oumakhlouf in Spinola last month cried and asked police whether the victim had died when officers approached him, a court heard on Monday.Sebastian Malinowski, who is pleading not guilty to wilful homicide, was arrested shortly after Oumakhlouf was found dead in a public garden in St Julian’s.According to Times of Malta, an officer from the Rapid Intervention Unit testified that Malinowski appeared agitated when police approached him at St George’s Bay. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I know what happened,” he allegedly told officers, before crying and pleading: “Please tell me he didn’t die.” His shirt was reportedly stained with the victim’s blood.The court also heard details of CCTV footage which investigators say showed the accused approaching Oumakhlouf before the victim collapsed.Malinowski allegedly collected his belongings and fled, before returning to where the victim was lying, walking around with his hands on his head and fleeing again.During questioning, Malinowski admitted punching Oumakhlouf once but insisted he never intended to kill him. He claimed he felt provoked during an altercation involving a woman and initially told investigators that the victim had advanced towards him. Police testified that footage from a nearby establishment instead showed Malinowski advancing towards Oumakhlouf.Malinowski told investigators he had spent the night drinking and taking drugs while on holiday in Malta, although he could not identify the substance. He said that after returning to the garden to retrieve belongings and seeing Oumakhlouf on the ground, he panicked after noticing blood.A police inspector confirmed under cross-examination that Oumakhlouf died from blunt force trauma. Malinowski remains accused of the killing and is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.The court was presided by Magistrate Nadia Helena Vella. The prosecution was led by Attorney General lawyer Anthony Vella along with Inspectors Stephen Gulia, Christina Delia and Kelsey Bugeja. Lawyers Franco Debono and Nicholas Mifsud appeared for the accused.•