Businessman Accused of Financing Legal Fees for Convicted Hitmen
Yorgen Fenech, a Maltese businessman accused of ordering the murder of investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, is alleged to have spent over €400,000 (£343,000) on legal fees for the men convicted of carrying out the car bombing that killed her, according to prosecutors.
Fenech, aged 44 and heir to one of Malta’s largest fortunes, appeared in court for the second day of his trial on Thursday, arriving in an unmarked armoured police vehicle. He remains under house arrest after posting a record bail estimated at €50 million.
Details of the Murder and Trial
Caruana Galizia, a prominent investigative journalist known for exposing high-level corruption, was killed in a car bombing. Three men have been convicted of planting the bomb beneath her vehicle’s seat. Prosecutors allege this was a contract killing orchestrated and financed by Fenech.
During a comprehensive opening statement outlining the case against Fenech, lead prosecutor Anthony Vella described how a taxi driver named Melvin Theuma transferred funds to the bombers on behalf of the accused.
Payments to the Hitmen
The hitmen, brothers George and Alfred Degiorgio, are said to have received €150,000 to execute the bombing, an additional €5,000 to cover expenses after the attack, and a larger sum following their arrest. Both brothers are currently serving 40-year sentences for voluntary homicide.
Addressing the jury at the courts of justice in Valletta, prosecutor Vella stated:
“The accused also financed the legal defence of Alfred and George Degiorgio, through their brother, Mario. Theuma gave him over €400,000 and the police will provide testimony on that.”
The Degiorgio brothers were arrested in December 2017. Their legal fees were reportedly paid in the months following their arrest, as the jury was informed.
Daphne Caruana Galizia’s Legacy and Impact
Caruana Galizia was one of Malta’s most well-known journalists, though she faced significant attacks from the ruling party, making her a contentious figure. Public opinion remains divided regarding her legacy. Prosecutor Vella urged the jury to consider her humanity during 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 of whom are expected to provide testimony during Fenech’s trial.
Witness Testimony and Evidence
Prosecutor Vella also indicated that the jury would hear from a neighbour who was driving in the opposite direction when Caruana Galizia’s car exploded.
“A witness was passing by on the opposite lane. He saw her vehicle explode a few metres away from him. He heard a loud scream. The violent and barbaric way they killed her. In the last seconds of her life she realised that her life was over.”
Vella further explained that the hitmen had attached a container of petrol to the bomb to ensure Caruana Galizia’s death.
Current Status of the Trial
Fenech, who faces charges of complicity in the voluntary homicide of Daphne Caruana Galizia, denies all allegations. The trial is ongoing.
