University lecturer and journalist Andrew Azzopardi has flat out denied media allegations that he had pressured the authorities to grant prison leave to convicted murderer Erin Tanti.

After Winston Zahra, cousin of the late Lisa Zahra, said that Tanti had been granted prison leave on a number of occasions allegedly due to lobbying and support from a “well-known media personality”, some journalists turned their focus to Azzopardi.

Mark Camilleri alleged that Azzopardi had pressured the authorities to provide Tanti with “soft conditions” and Neville Gafa claimed that he pressured them to allow Tanti to leave prison and attend one of his full-time university courses. Gafa also claimed that Azzopardi had introduced Tanti to a woman he eventually impregnated.

However, Azzopardi told Lovin Malta that he never advocated for Tanti to be given prison leave and that such decisions are ultimately in the hands of the prison director.

Azzopardi said that a few years ago, back when Alex Dalli was still prison director, Tanti’s family had approached him to help Tanti find a university course. Azzopardi said he forwarded this request to a prison coordinator, and that Tanti was allowed to sit for an online course.

He said he had no involvement at all in introducing Tanti to his partner.