Fenech Lawyers Blame Former Malta Official for Journalist Murder

(Armed Police Officers. Photo by Reuter)

Maltese businessman Yorgen Fenech's lawyers are trying to shift blame for a journalist's murder to a former top government official.

Fenech is accused of orchestrating the killing of anti-corruption journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, who was killed by car bomb in October 2017.

The murder shocked Europe and sparked political turmoil in Malta.

Three men who planted the bomb have already been convicted.

A middleman, Melvin Theuma, turned state's evidence after getting a pardon and said Fenech wanted Caruana Galizia d£ad because he feared she would write damaging stories about him and his business.

Fenech, a 44-year-old property tycoon with hotels and casinos, was arrested in 2019.

His trial started in July and is expected to end next month

. He denies everything.

His lawyer told the court that the real culprit was Keith Schembri, the former chief of staff to then Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and a close friend of Fenech.

Schembri has repeatedly denied involvement and police never considered him a suspect.

The lawyer argued Schembri had a motive because Caruana Galizia had written articles about him, including pieces about his health problems.

The lawyer also questioned Theuma's credibility, saying Fenech was in the United States when Theuma claimed he asked him to arrange the murder.

Theuma said Fenech gave him money to pay the hitmen and later cover their defence costs.

Fenech admitted handing over cash but said it was to keep Theuma under control during the police investigation, not to pay for the murder.

He claimed he was a loyal friend protecting Schembri.

Fenech faces life in prison if convicted of complicity to murder, and up to 18 years for criminal association to commit murder.