Businessman accused of ordering Caruana Galizia murder paid hitmen's legal fees, court hears
Prosecutors allege that Yorgen Fenech, the businessman accused of commissioning the murder of Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, spent over €400,000 on legal fees for the convicted hitmen.
A Maltese businessman accused of orchestrating the murder of investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia paid more than €400,000 (£343,000) in legal fees for the hitmen convicted of her killing, prosecutors have told the court. Yorgen Fenech, 44, the heir to one of Malta's largest fortunes, arrived at court on Thursday in an unmarked armored police vehicle. He is under house arrest after posting a record bail estimated at €50 million.
Caruana Galizia, who exposed high-level corruption, was killed in a car bomb in October 2017. Three men have been convicted of planting the bomb, which prosecutors say was part of a contract killing initiated and funded by Fenech.
In his opening statement, lead prosecutor Anthony Vella described how a taxi driver, Melvin Theuma, transferred money to the bombers on Fenech's behalf. The alleged hitmen, brothers George and Alfred Degiorgio, are said to have received €150,000 for the attack, an additional €5,000 in expenses, and a larger sum after their arrest. They are serving 40 years for voluntary homicide after pleading guilty.
Vella told the jury: "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, and their legal bills were paid in the following months.
Vella urged the jury to remember Caruana Galizia's humanity, saying: "She was a very active journalist with a strong public profile and many ongoing investigations. 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."
Caruana Galizia is survived by three sons, two of whom are due to testify. Vella also mentioned a neighbor who was driving in the opposite direction when the car exploded: "He saw her vehicle explode a few meters away. He heard a loud scream. The violent and barbaric way they killed her." The hitmen attached a container of petrol to the bomb to ensure her death.
Fenech, on trial for complicity in voluntary homicide, denies the charges. The trial continues.
