Man accused of ordering Daphne Caruana Galizia murder paid hitmen’s legal fees, court hears

A businessman accused of commissioning the murder of the Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia spent more than €400,000 (£343,000) on legal fees for the hitmen convicted of her killing, prosecutors claim.

Yorgen Fenech, the 44-year-old heir to one of Malta’s largest fortunes, arrived in court for the second day of his trial on Thursday in an unmarked armoured police vehicle. He is on house arrest having pledged a record bail estimated at €50m.

Caruana Galizia, an investigative journalist who had exposed corruption at the highest levels, was killed in a car bombing in October 2017. Three men have been convicted for planting a bomb under the seat of her car, in what prosecutors allege was a contract killing initiated and paid for by Fenech.

In a day-long opening statement setting out the case against the businessman, the lead prosecutor described how a taxi driver called Melvin Theuma had transferred money to the bombers on Fenech’s behalf.

The hitmen, brothers George and Alfred Degiorgio, are alleged to have received €150,000 to carry out the bombing, a further €5,000 in expenses after the event, and an even larger sum after being arrested. They are serving 40 years for voluntary homicide after pleading guilty.

Addressing the jury in the courts of justice in Valletta, the prosecutor, Anthony Vella, said: “The accused also financed the legal defense of Alfred and George Degiorgio, through their brother, Mario. Theuma gave him over €400,000 and the police will provide testimony on that.”

The Degiorgios were arrested in December 2017. Their legal bills were paid in the months that followed, the jury heard.

Caruana Galizia was one of Malta’s best-known journalists, but attacks from the ruling party had made her a target, and public opinion about her legacy remains divided. Addressing the jury, Vella urged them to think of her humanity when making their deliberations.

“Daphne Caruana Galizia was a very active journalist with a strong public profile and many investigations ongoing. They used to describe her as a witch, or ‘just a blogger’.

“You may agree with what she wrote or not. That is not what matters here. She was a citizen like us, killed because of her work. What matters is that she was a mother, a person, a daughter, a wife, a sister. Daphne never saw her children’s children being born. These crimes cause irreparable harm. A person of flesh and blood, with her aspirations and her dignity. That is what concerns us here.”

Caruana Galizia is survived by her three sons. Two are due to give testimony at the Fenech trial.

Vella said the jury would also hear testimony from a neighbour who was driving in the opposite direction when the journalist’s car exploded. “A witness was passing by on the opposite lane. He saw her vehicle explode a few meters away from him. He heard a loud scream. The violent and barbaric way they killed her. In the last seconds of her life she realized that her life was over.”

He said the hitmen, wanting to be sure Caruana Galizia would die, had attached a container of petrol to the bomb.

Fenech, who is on trial for complicity in the voluntary homicide of Caruana Galizia, denies the charges. The trial continues.