Melvin Theuma is expected to continue his testimony on Monday in the trial of Yorgen Fenech after a marathon Saturday sitting where saw jurors heard some of the most damning recordings yet concerning the murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.

Theuma, the self-confessed middleman in the 2017 assassination who was granted a presidential pardon in exchange for information, will return to the witness stand as the prosecution continues presenting recordings of conversations he secretly held with Fenech in the months before their arrests.

Saturday's sitting saw jurors hear Fenech say he would "throw [Caruana Galizia] from a balcony with [Fenech's] own hands", while another recording captured him discussing possible prison sentences for himself, Theuma, and the three men accused of carrying out the murder.

In another exchange, Fenech appeared to establish three tiers of imprisonment: 10 years for the hitmen, seven years for himself, and five years for Theuma. Questioned from the witness stand, Theuma confirmed that the numbers being discussed referred to years in prison.

Fenech 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, Giannella de Marco 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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9:52 Cini asks Melvin Theuma if he ever heard Yorgen Fenech admit to being the main mastermind, to which Theuma replies affirmatively, stating that Fenech frequently admitted to messing things up and paying for Daphne Caruana Galizia to be killed. In another part of the recorded conversation, Fenech remarked that Caruana Galizia's laptop would likely cause more confusion since she had written against everyone in Malta, believing that everything possible had already been leaked from the device while it was in her family's possession, whereas Theuma testified that he was personally far more concerned about the Degiorgio brothers talking than about the laptop. 

9:40 As Cini continued reading the transcript, Theuma recalled Fenech expressing disbelief over the prosecution's case against the Degiorgio brothers and Vince Muscat following their December 2017 arraignment, insisting that a trial would never happen quickly and claiming the prosecution wouldn't win in a hundred years. 

9:37: Melvin Theuma noted that he had previously advised Yorgen Fenech to speak to then-Prime Minister Joseph Muscat about the murder because of his power, referencing Keith Schembri and Muscat in the conversation. Theuma testified that Fenech used to tell him "under Labour, no one can touch me," but Fenech rejected the idea of speaking directly to Muscat, stating it would be the biggest mistake of his life. Additionally, Theuma told the court that Fenech had remarked on a separate occasion that had he known how much the situation would escalate, he never would have done it. 

9:33 Melvin Theuma testifies that he had been nervous about Daphne Caruana Galizia's laptop, noting that both he and Yorgen Fenech knew at the time that the laptop was with the German authorities. Prosecuting lawyer Godwin Cini read from the recording's transcript, highlighting that Fenech had told Theuma the laptop would likely lead investigators to several potential suspects. Theuma also informed the court that he had spoken to Mario Degiorgio, the brother of hitmen Alfred and George Degiorgio, regarding bail, and clarified that he had placed his recording device inside a newspaper that day, which accounted for the poor audio quality, while correcting his earlier statement to note that he and Fenech were likely at Portomaso rather than on their way to Żebbuġ. 

9:20 A new secret recording of a conversation between Melvin Theuma and Yorgen Fenech inside a car - evidenced by the sound of car indicators ticking and a safety belt clicking - was played, with Theuma confirming the voices belonged to him and Fenech as they drove to Fenech's Żebbuġ farmhouse and discussed Daphne Caruana Galizia's laptop. When prosecuting lawyer Godwin Cini asked Theuma why he was heard telling Fenech "You're so calm," Theuma explained he felt Fenech was being overly calm and not paying attention, to which Fenech replied, "If you're not calm, you're not in control of everything." Theuma testified that Fenech was referring to the murder, adding that Fenech also told him he was caught between four walls and could do nothing else except keep calm. 

09:10 Melvin Theuma is seated in the middle of the court room facing the judge. He once again swears to say the truth and nothing but the truth, sitting with his back to the defence and the accused.

The prosecution begins its questioning by introducing a new recording between Theuma and Fenech.

09:05 Melvin Theuma is set to continue his testimony today