VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The murder trial of Maltese businessman Yorgen Fenech entered a critical phase on Thursday as the prosecution delivered its reply to the jury, revealing that police have sought to reopen the investigation into possible third parties involved in the assassination of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.
Prosecutor Anthony Vella made the disclosure during his closing address on the 50th day of proceedings at the Valletta law courts.
Vella said the inquiry concerning Fenech, the Degiorgio brothers and Vince Muscat was closed, but police had applied to investigate other individuals who may have played a role in the killing.
He stressed that the possible involvement of others could not exonerate Fenech, telling jurors: “This is Yorgen Fenech’s trial and no one else’s.”
Vella also rejected defence efforts to implicate former OPM chief of staff Keith Schembri and former minister Chris Cardona, reminding jurors that only Fenech was before them.
The prosecutor acknowledged that pardoned middleman Melvin Theuma was an accomplice and warned that his evidence should be treated with caution.
However, he argued that Theuma’s account was corroborated by other evidence presented during the trial.
Vella accused Fenech of repeatedly changing his version of events and alleged that he used money to continue paying the executioners.
Earlier on Thursday, defence lawyer Charles Mercieca concluded his nearly three-day closing address by urging the jury to find Fenech not guilty on the first two charges.
Mercieca repeatedly attacked Theuma’s credibility and renewed claims that Schembri was the “hidden hand” behind the assassination, while portraying Fenech as someone trying to help his friend.
Following the prosecution’s reply, the defence will make its final submissions before Judge Edwina Grima gives detailed directions to the jury.
The jurors will then retire to deliberate on the case.
Fenech is accused of financing, ordering and conspiring to assassinate Caruana Galizia, who was killed in a car-bomb attack on 16 October 2017. He denies all charges.
-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).
