Judge Edwina Grima on Tuesday sentenced the four individuals who stood trial in connection with the murders of Daphne Caruana Galizia and lawyer Carmel Chircop to life in prison.

Chircop was killed on 8 October, 2015, by gunfire in front of his garage in Birkirkara, while Caruana Galizia was murdered by a car bomb on 16 October, 2017.

In relation to these two murders, brothers Robert and Adrian Agius, known as "tal-Maksar," George Degiorgio, known as "iċ-Ċiniż", and Jamie Vella stood trial.

The trial began on April 24 and concluded on June 5, with the jury finding Vella and Degiorgio guilty of the murder of lawyer Chircop. Adrian Agius was found guilty of complicity in this murder, while Robert Agius was acquitted of the charge.

Robert Agius and Vella were found guilty of complicity in the 2017 murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia, having supplied the bomb that killed her and for being in possession of explosive materials.

The court on Tuesday began by hearing submissions on sentencing, but first some witnesses were called by Lawyer Nicholas Mifsud, on behalf of his client Adrian Agius.  One witness was a psychology practitioner from prison also testified. She said that every prisoner who comes to prison undergoes an assessment, to identify the needs of prisoners and to work with them. Regarding Agius, she said that the assessment took place in March 2021, soon after Agius entered prison. She said that he undertook around 8 courses while incarcerated and that there were no disciplinary reports against Agius while he was in prison.

The partner of Adrian Agius also testified. The court banned the publication of names of the accused's family members. Talking about the character of Adrian Agius, she said he likes work, helps people, and is also very reliable.

Anthony Vella, on behalf of the prosecution, delivered his submissions. He said that the Attorney General was seeking life in prison for all the accused.

He said nothing prevents the court from sentencing the accused to life in prison, even though the verdicts were not unanimous. He mentioned that the murders were premeditated, and also mentioned the seriousness of the charges and spoke of sending a message to society.

Lawyer Therese Comodini Cachia, on behalf of the Caruana Galizia family, said that the role of the Parte Civile is to represent the voice of the victim. She said that Daphne Caruana Galizia's voice is still heard, even though she was killed. She spoke about the impact of the murder of Caruana Galizia on her family. "Her family was devastated, and that doesn't even begin to describe how they felt."

She said that a penalty is given in order for justice to prevail.

The penalty must be reflective of the crime, she said, backing the prosecution's call for life in prison for Robert Agius and Jamie Vella for their complicity in the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia.

A brutal homicide always brings about a sense of insecurity in society, Comodini Cachia said, adding that society was shocked with the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia. She spoke of the sense of impunity among those who thought they could kill her. This was an attack on the fourth pillar of democracy, and had a chilling effect on journalists, she said. This homicide was seen as a message that a group of people can do all possible to kill a journalist and with a sense of impunity, she added.

She mentioned the damage to Malta's reputation as a result of the murder, and spoke about the impact on the victim's family.

Lawyer Vince galea, on behalf of the Chircop family, said that the world of his family was turned upside down through this murder. He said that Chircop's wife said the verdict will not bring her husband back, but the family happy that justice is done.

Defence lawyer Alfred Abela, for Robert Agius, said that his client was not guilty in relation to the murder of Chircop, but guilty of the charges tied to the murder of daphne Caruana Galizia. If the jury wanted life in prison, it would have given a unanimous verdict, he said.

He said that providing the weapon is the least input in the action.

Lawyer Nicholas Mifsud said that the jury did not find his client, Adrian Agius, guilty unanimously.

He said that the law states that the court can, if the verdict is not unanimous, move away from sentencing life in prison. He said that the jury did not send a message that they want the maximum penalty for Agius, and the court should not discard that message.

He made reference to the educational courses Agius undertook while in prison, and is trying to keep a relationship with his child. 

Defence lawyer Leslie Cuschieri, on behalf of George Degiorgio, said that his client was being processed on the murder of Chircop. He mentioned that Degiorgio was processed separately on the Caruana Galizia murder.

He said that two in the jury voted against the guilty verdict, adding that there was an element of doubt. A 7-2 verdict is not only a message that life should not be given, but shows that some did not believe there was guilty, he said.

Lawyer Ishmael Psaila spoke on behalf of Adrian Agius said that the jury sent a message through their verdict that they don't want the maximum sentence given.

The court, later in the day, delivered its judgement. It said that the jury delivered a strong verdict, and that the two murders were premeditated.

The court sentenced all four of the accused to life in prison. The court also ordered George Degiorgio, Jamie Vella and Adrian Agius to pay the court registry the sum of €9,726.98 in costs, and Robert Agius and Jamie Vella to pay €8,722.08 each in costs.

The prosecution in this trial was led by lawyers Godwin Cini, Danika Vella, and Anthony Vella on behalf of the Attorney General's Office.

Adrian Agius was represented by lawyer Nicholas Mifsud; Robert Agius by lawyers Alfred Abela and René Darmanin; Vella by lawyers Ishmael Psaila and Amadeus Cachia; and Degiorgio by lawyers Noel Bianco and Leslie Cuschieri.

Lawyers Jason Azzopardi and Therese Comodini Cachia represented the family of Daphne Caruana Galizia, while lawyer Vince Galea represented the family of lawyer Chircop.

George Degiorgio and his brother Alfred Degiorgio had both pleaded guilty in 2022 to carrying out the murder of Caruana Galizia. They were each sentenced to 40 years in prison. A third man, Vincent Muscat, pleaded guilty in 2021 for his role in the Caruana Galizia murder, and was sentenced to 15 years in prison.

Businessman Yorgen Fenech is awaiting trial for complicity in the murder of the journalist.

Photos: TVM