A money laundering case against two of the men accused of murdering journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia is to be decided by a magistrates’ court rather than by a judge. 

George and Alfred Degiorgio, together with George Degiorgio’s partner Anca Adelina Pop, are pleading not guilty to money-laundering accusations.

The decision on who is to hand down punishment in the event of a conviction is at the Attorney General's discretion.

If the case was tried before the Criminal Court, the maximum punishment is 18 years or a fine of €2.5 million or both. When the case is decided by magistrate, the maximum punishment goes down to nine years or a fine of €250,000 or both.

It was taken after the prosecution had declared that it had no further evidence to put forward.

Although both men claimed to be unemployed, they did not file tax returns and had mostly dormant bank accounts. They nonetheless appeared to lead a lavish lifestyle, owning luxury cars and pleasure boats. 

During a sitting this week, the court, presided over by magistrate Joseph Mifsud, read out the counter-order whereby the Attorney General sent back the records of the inquiry to the Magistrates’ Court for the case to be decided before that court.