The trial by jury of businessman Yorgen Fenech entered its 19th day on Tuesday with Johann Cremona continuing his testimony, as jurors heard more secretly recorded conversations between him and self-confessed middleman Melvin Theuma.

Throughout the morning sitting, Cremona repeatedly insisted that references he made to politicians, police officers, lawyers and others were nothing more than a "bluff" aimed at calming Theuma or telling him what he wanted to hear.

Yorgen Fenech, a businessman, has pleaded not guilty to two principal charges: complicity in the wilful homicide of Daphne Caruana Galizia and criminal association to commit the murder. 

Caruana Galizia, a columnist with The Malta Independent, was killed in a car bomb on 16 October, 2017.

Five men have already been convicted in connection with Caruana Galizia's assassination. Vince Muscat admitted his role in the murder in 2021 and was sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment. Alfred and George Degiorgio each received 40-year prison sentences after pleading guilty in 2022, while Robert Agius and Jamie Vella were sentenced to life imprisonment in 2025 for supplying the bomb used in the attack.

The prosecution is being led by Attorney General lawyers Godwin Cini, Anthony Vella and Danika Vella, assisted by Assistant Commissioner Keith Arnaud and Inspector Kurt Zahra. Fenech is represented by lawyers Charles Mercieca, Gianella Demarco and Gianluca Caruana Curran, while lawyers Therese Comodini Cachia and Jason Azzopardi are appearing parte civile on behalf of the Caruana Galizia family.

Judge Edwina Grima is presiding.

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17:42: That wraps up our live coverage for today.

The trial will continue tomorrow, with Johann Cremona expected to resume his testimony before the jury.

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A full, comprehensive summary of today's courtroom proceedings will be uploaded shortly.

17:36: The court hears a recording in which Johann Cremona advises Melvin Theuma to pay attention to what Vince "il-Koħħu" Muscat, had been doing.

In the recording, Cremona remarks that Muscat had first been made to do "everything" before being abandoned.

Asked about the exchange, Cremona tells the court he was referring to Vince Muscat and his then lawyer, Arthur Azzopardi.

He explains that the remark related to Azzopardi's negotiations for a presidential pardon for Muscat before later withdrawing from the case.

17:22: Johann Cremona tells the court that after Melvin Theuma learned he was under police investigation, he no longer trusted him and began speaking to him in a more aggressive manner.

According to Cremona, Theuma had become aware that police knew about his money laundering activities, prompting the bank to ask him to declare the source of his funds.

In one of the recordings, Cremona is heard telling Theuma that "Yorgen is in the spotlight." He explains that this was "the best medicine" for Theuma because it was the only thing that managed to calm him down.

17:12: In a further recording, Johann Cremona urges Theuma not to "rush because of the date". Giving evidence, he explains that Theuma was expecting the police to carry out a raid.

Theuma says he intended to bring Yorgen Fenech down despite the vast difference in their financial means.

Cremona tells the court that Theuma was referring to the disparity between them, explaining that Fenech was a millionaire while Theuma was not.

17:09: The prosecution then refers to another recording in which Melvin Theuma is heard saying, "I think he is caught."

Questioned about the exchange, Johann Cremona tells the court that, as he understood it, Theuma was referring to Yorgen Fenech.

However, Cremona acknowledges that throughout many of the recorded conversations, he often mixed up the people he was referring to, sometimes speaking about Theuma and at other times about Fenech.

At one point in the same conversation, Cremona is heard saying, "Doesn't he know that she's worse dead rather than alive?" 

The witness confirms before the jury that he was referring to Daphne Caruana Galizia.

16:57: Attention is now turned to a recorded conversation in which Johann Cremona warns Melvin Theuma not to lose his mobile phone and claims police are preparing to seize Yorgen Fenech's phone at Gatwick Airport.

The recording also hears Cremona say that if his company was subjected to an asset freeze, he would shoot himself with a "9mm firearm."

Prosecution lawyer Godwin Cini asks about the remarks, and Cremona tells the court that the reference to Gatwick was fabricated.

He adds that he was going through financial difficulties at the time because of personal debts.

Later in the conversation, Theuma suggests that Fenech had been caught.

Cremona responds that Fenech had not been caught but that police were "onto him," before telling Theuma that he was the one truly caught because he held the "key."

Cremona explains that the "key" mentioned in the conversation referred to the recordings, which Theuma had told him former Police Commissioner Lawrence Cutajar knew about.

16:33: The prosecution continues analysing the recording, during which Edgar Brincat, known as "Il-Ġojja," and former Police Commissioner Lawrence Cutajar are mentioned.

When asked about the reference, Johann Cremona tells the court that, as far as he remembers, the two were expected to meet a few days before the conversation took place.

Later in the recording, Melvin Theuma is heard saying that he was going to "expose them."

Asked by the prosecution who Theuma is referring to, Cremona says he believes the reference is to Yorgen Fenech and Keith Schembri.

16:27: The prosecution plays another recorded conversation in which Johann Cremona is heard saying he intended to warn Kenneth Camilleri to stop calling him about Melvin Theuma.

In the recording, Cremona says he planned to tell Camilleri not to contact him again regarding Theuma because Theuma was determined that, if police carried out a raid, he would reveal everything.

Asked about the conversation, Cremona tells the court he never intended to make the call. He insists the remarks were also a bluff and were intended only to reassure and calm Theuma.

16:14: The prosecution refers to another recorded conversation between Melvin Theuma and Johann Cremona.

In the recording, Theuma discussing what he would do if police were to search his home. Theuma says he would tell Yorgen Fenech that, if he was going down, he would also bring Fenech himself down with him.

16:04: The prosecution plays further excerpts from another recorded conversation between today's witness Johann Cremona and Melvin Theuma.

In this recording, Cremona tells Theuma that if Vince Muscat, known as "Il-Koħħu", were to mention him, investigators would have to question him.

He also expresses concern that Yorgen Fenech might leave Malta, saying he believed preparations had been made for a boat and feared Fenech could leave before any police action was taken.

Prosecutor Godwin Cini then refers to another part of the recording in which weekly payments of €1,000 are mentioned.

Asked who the money was intended for, Cremona tells the court it referred to payments being passed on to the Degiorgio brothers.

The recording also includes a remark in which Theuma says he did not want Cremona to become "his headache." Asked who he meant by "his", Cremona tells the court that Melvin was referring to Yorgen Fenech.

15:49: Madam Justice Edwina Grima and the jury return to the courtroom as proceedings resume.

Johann Cremona resumes his testimony before the jury.

15:33 Electricity has now been restored at the Courts of Justice, and the courtroom is preparing to resume proceedings.

The sitting was interrupted for around an hour due to the power outage, following the scheduled two-hour lunch break. Jurors, lawyers and members of the public are now returning to the courtroom as the trial prepares to continue.

14:37 Court officials have informed those present that the jury trial will resume once electricity is restored or, alternatively, once the backup generator is repaired.

Proceedings remain suspended, with everyone still waiting inside the court as temperatures continue to rise due to the power outage.

It is not yet clear whether proceedings will resume as scheduled, with the sitting expected to continue in around half an hour.

12:53: Madam Justice Edwina Grima orders a lunch break in the proceedings.

The hearing is due to resume at 2:30pm. 

We will continue bringing you live updates as proceedings resume.

12:52: Asked why he had told Theuma to "free himself", Johann Cremona tells the court he was referring to Theuma speaking directly to Yorgen Fenech so that Fenech would do him the favour he was requesting.

Referring to another part of the recording mentioning Kenneth Camilleri, Cremona reiterates that he had never spoken to him and insists this formed part of the same "bluff" intended to tell Theuma what he wanted to hear.

The recordings then refer to Assistant Police Commissioner Keith Arnaud allegedly passing information from the murder investigation. Lawyer David Gatt is also mentioned.

Cremona maintains these references were likewise part of the same bluff, explaining that he deliberately mentioned various people to ease Theuma.

The prosecution also refers back to Cremona's testimony from yesterday, in which he said he had only discussed the case with Fenech once after media reports identified a businessman as being implicated in Daphne Caruana Galizia's murder.

Turning to a photograph previously mentioned in his evidence, Cremona says Fenech had sent it to him unexpectedly after identifying the person depicted as the alleged middleman between the Degiorgio brothers and Chris Cardona.

Cremona says he believes Fenech sent him the image because Theuma had told Fenech that the two of them were in contact.

He also explains that his remarks about the situation keeping him awake at night related to the Daphne Caruana Galizia murder case. Later in the recording, Keith Schembri is mentioned.

Cremona tells the court he did not know any of the people allegedly involved before June 2018. Asked about other remarks made during the conversation, he says he cannot recall exactly what he meant, adding that they too were "a bluff."

12:28: The prosecution moves on to another recording in which Melvin Theuma says he no longer wants to continue handling money on Yorgen Fenech's behalf and intends to tell Fenech to find someone else. Cremona tells the court he believes Theuma was referring to delivering money to the Degiorgio brothers. 

Cremona also tells the court that Theuma had become fed up with Fenech's associate, a certain Roman. Cremona says that Theuma used to repeatedly call Fenech asking for money and had become frustrated when Fenech failed to answer. 

The recording also includes a reference to someone having "taken the casino", but Cremona says he cannot remember what he meant.

Turning to another section of the recording, Cremona refers to an impending police raid. He later explains that this is what he meant when mentioning that another "storm" was coming.

The recording mentions Chris Cardona, with Cremona suggesting that one person would eventually expose the other and that Cardona would eventually be implicated.

Asked about the exchange, Cremona tells the court he was bluffing. He says he does not know why he mentioned Cardona and explains that he was simply telling Theuma what he wanted to hear.

Cremona apologises to those whose names he mentioned, saying he deliberately put certain names in Theuma's mind to calm him down.

12:12 The prosecution refers to another part of the recording in which Melvin Theuma discusses asking Yorgen Fenech to "find someone" because he was mentally exhausted.

Asked what Theuma was referring to, Johann Cremona tells the court he cannot remember.

The recording then turns to lawyer Arthur Azzopardi, with Theuma stating that Azzopardi had been paid. Cremona confirms, as heard in the recording, that "if I do something with Arthur, it's for you, not them."

When prosecutor Godwin Cini asks who he meant by "them", Cremona says he believes he was referring to Keith Schembri.

He adds that Arthur Azzopardi was acting as lawyer for Vince Muscat and insists that, if he had done anything involving Azzopardi, it would only have been for Melvin Theuma and not for Yorgen Fenech or Keith Schembri.

11:59 The prosecution played a recording in which Johann Cremona tells Melvin Theuma that "another storm" is on the horizon, which Cremona explained referred to an upcoming raid. In the recording, Theuma remarks that Chris Cardona knows a lot, to which Cremona replies, "Better, one will expose the other... trust me, Cardona will get it." When questioned about this in court, Cremona maintained that he was simply bluffing when he made the remark about Cardona. 

11:55 The prosecution moves on to another recording.

In it, Johann Cremona complains to Melvin Theuma about his business partnership with Yorgen Fenech, claiming Fenech was "trying to cheat" him. Cremona says his shareholding was meant to be 49.9%, but Fenech had instead listed it as 49%.

Asked about the conversation, Cremona tells the court he was upset at the time. "I was fed up," he says.

The recording then turns to the impact the situation had on him. Cremona says people had begun distancing themselves from him and that banks refused to do business with him.

He tells the court that, as a consequence, he was unable to continue working.

11:30 Following a delay that lasted about an hour rather than thirty minutes, the court case resumed.

10:30 The sitting has been briefly suspended for 30 minutes after a power cut hit the courts.

Power has since been restored through the court's backup generators, but the courtroom's systems require at least 30 minutes to come back online.

10:19 During the next recording, reference is made to a meeting between Cremona and former OPM security official, Kenneth Camilleri. When prosecutor Godwin Cini asks the witness about the reference, Cremona tells the court that no such meeting ever took place.

Cremona also says the recordings show that Melvin Theuma appeared to have enough influence on his own and continues arguing that those around Theuma did not need his assistance and were instead "playing games" with him.

According to Cremona, Theuma would speak to him in an attempt to draw him into the situation.

At one point, Cremona tells the court he is uncomfortable with repeatedly being asked about Yorgen Fenech, saying he feels he is being placed in a defensive position whenever Fenech's name is mentioned.

Madam Justice Edwina Grima directs the prosecution to continue with its questioning.

The recordings then turn to a discussion about money, referring to payments of €5,000 at a time. 

Cremona tells the court he believes the money was intended for Edgar Brincat to pass on to a police commissioner so that the commissioner could use it to travel abroad.

The recording also suggests that Theuma wanted to make the payments himself, but Brincat refused to accept the money from him.

10:05 The prosecution is questioning the witness about several remarks made during the recordings. Johann Cremona repeatedly tells the court that he does not know or cannot remember what he meant at the time.

Referring to Edgar Brincat, known as "Il-Ġojja," Cremona explains that he believes Brincat was being "kept in the dark" about certain matters.

In another exchange, Cremona is heard telling Melvin Theuma that he would "lead him in the right direction." 

Clarifying the statement, Cremona tells the court he was referring to Yorgen Fenech and Keith Schembri, explaining that he wanted to keep Theuma calm and prevent him from becoming confused. He insists he never actually led Theuma "in any direction."

The recordings also turn to a surveillance camera installed outside the shop belonging to Cremona's uncle, which overlooked the residence of Mario Degiorgio.

Cremona tells the court that he found out about the camera through Melvin Theuma. He adds that Theuma never explained how he had become aware of the camera.

According to Cremona, Theuma believed that the camera had been installed by the secret service because it overlooked an area he frequented. Cremona also tells the court he had suggested to Theuma that the camera might contain a microphone.

09:54 The prosecution continues playing recordings of conversations between Johann Cremona and Melvin Theuma. It is worth noting that Cremona, the witness for today, was not aware he was being recorded at the time.

The recording refers to a conversation in which Theuma had previously told Cremona that Yorgen Fenech had become increasingly worried in the months leading up to this conversation, fearing that someone might begin revealing information.

The recording also refers to Fenech becoming alarmed after learning about the existence of Theuma's recordings.

At one point, Cremona is heard telling Theuma that any discussions about money should be held directly with Fenech. He tells the court that he could not understand why Fenech was not speaking to Theuma himself and instead appeared to be communicating through him.

9:46 During the presentation of more excerpts from the audio recordings, Melvin Theuma is heard asking Johann Cremona when Yorgen Fenech started getting messed up, to which Cremona replies that it was "since the recordings." In another part of the recording, Cremona tells Theuma, "I will direct you," and the two men discuss an individual named "Mario," with Cremona telling Theuma that Kenneth told him to "tell him not to go there... there is a camera." When the prosecution asksCremona about each extracted portion read out in court, Cremona says that he could not remember what they had been talking about in any of the instances. 

09:34 The prosecution begins questioning Johann Cremona by playing recordings of conversations between him and Melvin Theuma.

In one recording, Cremona is heard saying, "Ħieles minn kollox" (free from everything). Asked what he means by the phrase, Cremona tells the court he is referring to Melvin Theuma getting away with everything "scot-free".

In the same recording, Theuma says: "He tried snitching seven months before but they ignored him." 

Asked who he is referring to, Cremona tells the court that Theuma is speaking about Vince Muscat, known as "il-Koħħu," explaining that Muscat had decided to reveal what he knew but that "they had ignored him."

During the recording, Cremona also appears to suggest that a magistrate had been bribed.

Addressing the recording in court, Cremona apologises for the remark, explaining that he did not even know who the magistrate was at the time and saying he should not have made the comment.

09:15 The sitting has started