Convicted bombers accuse Maltese ex-minister and chief of staff of orchestrating journalist’s murder

Two brothers serving 40-year sentences for the 2017 car bombing have testified in court that former economy minister Chris Cardona and former chief of staff Keith Schembri were involved in the plot.

• Alfred Degiorgio told the court that Cardona, lawyer David Gatt, and Schembri were involved in the murder, then refused to answer further questions and was ordered arrested for contempt.
• George Degiorgio claimed Cardona gave him orders to kill Daphne Caruana Galizia in 2015, and later said Cardona confirmed their involvement in the 2017 killing.
• The judge fined George Degiorgio €1,000 for contempt after he shouted at the prosecution and told jurors to “be careful”.
• Caruana Galizia’s family said allegations alone are not evidence and no sufficient evidence has been presented showing that Schembri or Cardona paid for the assassination.