of the statement denied him a fair sentencing hearing.

The evidence in question was presented as part of the victim impact statement of Olivia Chase, one of the victim's two daughters. Reading from her statement at the second stage of the sentencing hearing, Olivia Chase concluded:

“Clifford Chase's murderer has been apprehended, tried, convicted and must now face punishment for his cowardly despicable act. An act, which in most societies, ancient or modern, carries with it the ultimate punishment.”

The defendant characterizes the preceding comments as a recommendation that the death penalty should be imposed in this case. The defendant argues that the comments therefore violated the proscription against witness' views regarding punishment. In response, the State contends that the daughter's comments are not a plea for capital punishment but simplyLast updated Thursday 7.30am as bank's mobile app went back online

Bank of Valletta shut down all its operations on Wednesday morning after hackers broke into its systems and moved €13 million into foreign accounts.

Mobile banking services are down.

All of the bank’s functions - branches, ATMs, mobile banking and even email services - were suspended and its website taken offline.

The bank's mobile app was back online on Thursday morning.

The fraudulent transactions had been traced and were "being reversed", Prime Minister Joseph Muscat told parliament later on Wednesday.

The attack is believed to have originated overseas.

'Funds not compromised'

In a statement, the bank reassured customers that their accounts and funds “are in no way impacted or compromised” and that it was working to resume normal services in a phased manner as soon