Key facts
- Businessman Yorgen Fenech is on trial in Malta for complicity in the murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.
- A key witness, Melvin Theuma, testified that Fenech was impatient for the murder and texted about preparing champagne to celebrate.
- Theuma claims Fenech wanted the journalist killed to stop revelations about himself and his uncle.
- Fenech allegedly provided €150,000 for the hitmen.
- Theuma expressed deep remorse for his involvement and apologized to the victim's family.
Yorgen Fenech, a 44-year-old businessman and heir to a property empire, is on trial in Malta for his alleged role in the 2017 car bombing murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. The prosecution's key witness, taxi driver Melvin Theuma, testified that Fenech was impatient for the killing to occur and once texted from his boat stating he was "preparing champagne" to celebrate. Theuma, who is testifying under witness protection in exchange for a pardon, claims Fenech initially wanted Caruana Galizia killed to prevent damaging information about his uncle, Raymond Fenech, from being published, but later stated the motive was to stop revelations about Fenech himself.
Theuma recounted that Fenech instructed him to contact hitmen, brothers George and Alfred Degiorgio, and their associate Vincent Muscat, who have already been convicted for their roles. The agreed price for the assassination was €150,000. Theuma stated he never revealed Fenech's identity to the hitmen. He also testified that Fenech initially asked him to call off the attack due to a snap general election called by then-Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, and instead asked Theuma to place a €150,000 bet on Muscat winning a second term.
Following Muscat's landslide victory in June 2017, Theuma said Fenech, sounding tipsy, instructed him to proceed with the murder. A few days later, Fenech gave Theuma an envelope containing €150,000 for the killing. The hitmen received a €30,000 deposit, and Fenech allegedly helped plot Caruana Galizia's movements, identifying her frequented cafes and restaurants. Theuma described Fenech's growing impatience, with the businessman frequently asking when the journalist would be killed.
Theuma broke down on the stand, expressing profound remorse and apologizing to the victim's family, stating his life was "blown up" when he learned of Caruana Galizia's death. He also revealed he had been in contact with the victim's sons, Matthew and Paul Caruana Galizia. Fenech denies the charges of complicity in voluntary homicide.