LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – A witness has sensationally alleged in court that former Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat paid for the assassination of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, implicating him in one of the country’s most explosive murder cases during dramatic court proceedings in Valletta.
The claim was made during the sixth day of the trial by jury of four men charged with the 2017 car bombing that killed Caruana Galizia, a prominent investigative journalist who had exposed corruption at the highest levels of government.
The witness, Nicole Brignone—a woman with a documented history of drug use and ties to criminal networks—testified that Kevin Ellul, himself allegedly involved in organized crime, told her that Muscat “paid someone” to have the bomb placed. Brignone’s testimony was originally delivered in secret in 2022 before an inquiring magistrate but was read aloud in court on Wednesday. When pressed by the defense to confirm the claims about Muscat, Brignone asked for a chair, became emotional, and confirmed the statement under oath.
Muscat, who has not been charged with any crime in connection to the murder, has repeatedly denied any involvement. He stepped down as prime minister in January 2020 amid widespread public outrage and protests sparked by the Caruana Galizia investigation. His former chief of staff, Keith Schembri, was also named by Brignone as being “involved in some way,” although she offered no further details. Brignone was testifying in the trial of Robert Agius, known as “ta’ Maksar,” and Jamie Ellul, who are accused of supplying the explosives used in the assassination.
She claimed Ellul had close ties to brothers George and Alfred Degiorgio, who are already serving prison sentences for carrying out the attack. According to her testimony, Ellul was aware of the plot beforehand and declined to participate, saying, “I’m not stupid,” though he remained closely connected to the suspects. Brignone also stated that Ellul had referred to Muscat as an “iblah” (idiot) and mentioned other politicians in relation to the plot, though their names were not disclosed in open court.
She further alleged that Melvin Theuma—the self-confessed middleman in the murder who was previously granted a pardon in exchange for testimony—“knew everything” about the conspiracy. Meanwhile, former Prime Minister Joseph Muscat has denounced the claim in court that he had paid someone to kill journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia as an “obscene lie”.
“I refer to the court testimony of a former prisoner with a long history of drug use who claimed that someone told her that I had paid someone to place the car bomb that killed Daphne Caruana Galizia. This is an obscene lie,” Muscat said. “It was the government I was in charge of that roped in experts who helped catch the people who admitted to committing the crime.”
“| was never informed about this allegation and I was never asked to testify about it.” The court proceedings continue as the high-profile case draws national and international attention, reigniting debate over Malta’s political accountability and rule of law.
– photo Net News –
(ITALPRESS).
