Yorgen Fenech trial enters final stage in Malta murder case

Yorgen Fenech Daphne Caruana Galizia Malta murder trial investigative journalism car bomb assassination

The jury trial of Maltese businessman Yorgen Fenech, accused of masterminding the 2017 car bomb assassination of investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, has entered its final stage. Presiding Judge Edwina Grima has begun summing up the evidence and explaining legal principles to the jury following 53 days of proceedings.

Fenech faces charges of complicity in wilful homicide and conspiracy to commit murder. If convicted of the former, he faces a potential life sentence. The prosecution alleges Fenech commissioned and financed the hit, paying €150,000 to middleman Melvin Theuma. Theuma, who turned state's evidence, testified that Fenech orchestrated the attack to prevent the journalist from revealing information regarding alleged corruption.

Fenech has pleaded not guilty to all charges. His defense team has challenged the credibility of the prosecution's witnesses and argued that the investigation failed to properly pursue alternative suspects, specifically pointing toward Keith Schembri, the former chief of staff to then-Prime Minister Joseph Muscat. A verdict is expected later this week.

Entities

Daphne Caruana Galizia · Edwina Grima · Keith Schembri · Malta · Melvin Theuma · Yorgen Fenech

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 3 SOURCES] The jury trial entered its final phase with the judge beginning her summing up. themalteseherald.com · srnnews.com · ca.news.yahoo.com
[● 2 SOURCES] Prosecutor Anthony Vella stated that Yorgen Fenech has blood on his hands. srnnews.com · ca.news.yahoo.com
[● 5 SOURCES] Fenech faces a charge of complicity in the wilful homicide of Daphne Caruana Galizia. themalteseherald.com · srnnews.com · ca.news.yahoo.com · theshiftnews.com · brusselsmorning.com
[● 2 SOURCES] Fenech faces a second charge of conspiracy to commit murder. themalteseherald.com · theshiftnews.com
[● 3 SOURCES] Melvin Theuma testified that Fenech ordered, funded, and paid for the legal defense of the hitmen. srnnews.com · ca.news.yahoo.com · theshiftnews.com
[● 5 SOURCES] A conviction for complicity in wilful homicide carries a potential sentence of life imprisonment. themalteseherald.com · srnnews.com · ca.news.yahoo.com · theshiftnews.com · brusselsmorning.com
[● 3 SOURCES] Defense lawyer Charles Mercieca alleged that the investigation should have focused on Keith Schembri. srnnews.com · ca.news.yahoo.com · brusselsmorning.com
[● 3 SOURCES] Yorgen Fenech has pleaded not guilty to the charges. themalteseherald.com · theshiftnews.com · brusselsmorning.com
[● 4 SOURCES] Judge Edwina Grima reminded jurors that any reasonable doubt must be resolved in favor of the defendant. www.ilpuntonotizie.it · www.maltanewsagency.com · www.italpress.com · napolipiu.com