Madam Justice Edwina Grima is expected to continue addressing jurors in Yorgen Fenech's trial this morning, as proceedings remain in their final phase before deliberations.
Yesterday, Grima opened her summing-up by reminding jurors that they are the judges of fact and must base their decision only on the evidence heard in court.
"You are not investigators. You are judges," she told them, warning against speculation over evidence that was never presented or investigative steps that may or may not have been taken.
The judge also reviewed the core legal principles governing their eventual verdict, including the presumption of innocence, the prosecution's burden of proof and the requirement that guilt be established beyond reasonable doubt.
She explained how jurors should assess witness credibility, circumstantial evidence, expert opinion and documentary evidence.
Businessman Yorgen Fenech, 44, is facing trial after pleading not guilty to complicity in the assassination of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia and to membership of a criminal organisation allegedly formed to carry out 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 ciThe court will take a short break until 5:15pm.The court will take a short break until 5:15pm.vile on behalf of the Caruana Galizia family.
Judge Edwina Grima is presiding.
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09:58 Madam Justice Edwina Grima continues reviewing the testimony of George Degiorgio, who said that between 2015 and 2017 no one had approached them again about the murder until Melvin Theuma began making contact.
Degiorgio also testified that, after their arrest, lawyer David Gatt would visit them in prison and tell them they would be granted bail.
According to his account, Keith Schembri had picked up Theuma and promised a presidential pardon.
Degiorgio further claimed that the same people allegedly involved in the 2015 plot were again involved in 2017, and that other benefits had been promised, including Freeport consignments and a petrol station.
9:52 Madam Justice Edwina Grima is now reviewing the testimony of George Degiorgio, recalling, among other points, that he said he received €10,000 from the deposit, but did not know where the money had originated.
Degiorgio also testified that Chris Cardona would tell him they had to "get rid of her" because Daphne Caruana Galizia was going to "destroy a party."
According to his account, the same people allegedly involved in the 2015 plot were also involved in 2017.
The judge also revisits his testimony about the earlier alleged plot, which Degiorgio said involved meetings with David Gatt and Chris Cardona at Portomaso, but ultimately did not materialise.
9:50 Madam Justice Edwina Grima continues to review evidence that emerged after Vince Muscat, il-Koħħu, began cooperating with the police in mid-2018.
Muscat had testified that the Degiorgio brothers learned he was speaking to investigators and told him the information had come from Melvin Theuma. He also referred to threats against children and said his lawyer had been frightened.
According to Muscat, George Degiorgio told him that four people were involved in the assassination, including former minister Chris Cardona.
The judge also recalls the testimony of Alfred Degiorgio, who said from the witness stand that he had no doubt Keith Schembri, David Gatt and Chris Cardona were involved in Daphne Caruana Galizia's murder.
Degiorgio, however, declined to elaborate further, saying he had proceedings pending before the European Court of Human Rights, despite being cautioned by the court.
09:46 Madam Justice Edwina Grima continues summarising the testimony of Vince Muscat, il-Koħħu, focusing on the period after the arrests.
Muscat testified that the Degiorgio brothers wanted to stand firm and appear confident, projecting the impression that they had influential people behind them.
He also said the brothers had managed to smuggle a mobile phone into prison.
The judge recalls that Muscat began speaking to police and Inspector Keith Arnaud around mid-2018. According to his testimony, the Degiorgio brothers later learned that he was cooperating and told him the information had come from Melvin Theuma.
Muscat also testified that he had heard threats that acid would be thrown at the children, and that his lawyer was frightened because of them.
9:40 Madam Justice Edwina Grima continues reviewing the testimony of Vince Muscat, il-Koħħu, including what he said about the days leading up to the Degiorgio brothers' arrests.
Muscat testified that lawyer David Gatt would visit the potato shed and make hand gestures, including a thumbs up. According to Muscat, George Degiorgio used a similar gesture to refer to "number one", whom Muscat said was Keith Schembri.
The judge also revisits Muscat's testimony about the money he received for the murder, which he said totalled €50,300.
Muscat further testified that the Degiorio brothers had already heard rumours that they could be arrested on 4 December 2017 and had even cleaned the area beneath the potato shed beforehand.
According to his evidence, that information had come from Melvin Theuma.
Muscat also said Toni l-Iblaħ, whom he described as someone who frequently associated with Chris Cardona, was at the potato shed that day. He further testified that attempts were made to contact Cardona.
09:25 Madam Justice Edwina Grima explains how il-Koħħu said he did not recall Melvin Theuma identifying who had ordered the murder.
Muscat did, however, testify that Theuma was pressuring the hitmen to move ahead, telling them that Daphne Caruana Galizia was about to publish certain information.
According to his account, the original plan was to shoot her through a window at her home while she was working on her laptop late at night.
That plan was eventually considered too risky because of fears the hitmen could be stopped at a roadblock. The method then shifted from a shooting to an explosive device.
Muscat also testified that he drove Alfred Degiorgio to Valletta, near Castille, on around three occasions to meet former minister Chris Cardona and obtain information from him.
He said he did not know whether Degiorgio ever actually received any information from Cardona.
9:22 Madam Justice Edwina Grima recalls that Vince Muscat, il-Koħħu, testified that he would drive Alfred Degiorgio, il-Fulu, to the Busy Bee in Msida to meet Melvin Theuma.
According to Muscat, the hitmen were insisting on receiving an upfront deposit, having already been "burned" by the failed 2015 plan, in which the money never materialised.
Muscat testified that when the 2017 general election was called, the plan was temporarily suspended. It then resumed after the Labour Party was returned to government.
9:18 Madam Justice Edwina Grima begins summarising the testimony of Vince Muscat, il-Koħħu, returning to the alleged 2015 plot to kill Daphne Caruana Galizia.
According to Muscat's testimony, the plan was linked to former minister Chris Cardona, while a €50,000 payment was expected to come through lawyer David Gatt.
Muscat said the money never arrived, and the plan ultimately collapsed.
He also testified that Caruana Galizia's movements were monitored for around six weeks, with Jamie Vella allegedly expected to carry out the killing using a machine gun.
According to Muscat, Vella would say that Cardona was all "empty talk" because the money was not materialising.
9:10 The court sitting begins.