One of the three men suspected of assassinating Daphne Caruana Galizia allegedly threatened to “get rid of” Nationalist MP Therese Comodini Cachia as he was being led through the court corridors yesterday afternoon. 

Comodini Cachia, part of the legal team assisting the late journalist’s family, warned a judge that Alfred Degiorgio, known as Il-Fulu, had gestured towards her with handcuffed hands and said “inneħħuha ’l din, inneħħuha ’l din” (“we’ll get rid of her, we’ll get rid of her”). 

Comodini Cachia’s version of events was corroborated by the two other lawyers representing the Caruana Galizis – fellow MP Jason Azzopardi and Eve Borg Costanzi. 

After hearing these remarks, the three lawyers returned to the chamber of judge Lorraine Schembri Orland – who had just finished presiding over a constitutional hearing as part of a suit filed by Alfred Degiorgio against the IT expert assisting the magisterial inquiry into Caruana Galizia’s murder. Degiorgio is complaining that his right to a fair trial has been compromised because IT expert Martin Bajada was criminally convicted of fraud in the United Kingdom back in 1993. 

In court, Degiorgio denied uttering those words to Comodini Cachia but confirmed “reacting verbally” to an “unpleasant remark” passed in his direction by Peter Caruana Galizia, widower of the late journalist.

Degiorgio’s lawyer William Cuschieri said he hadn’t witnessed the incident himself, but had noticed the guards assigned to his client trying to calm him down. Taking to the stand, the three guards declared under oath that they hadn’t heard Degiorgio utter the alleged threatening comment and denied that he had been angry or agitated.

However, Judge Schembri Orland chose to believe Comodini Cachia, arguing that she gives more weight to the word of a lawyer, and issued a formal order banning Degiorgio from even looking at the Caruana Galizia legal team.

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Tim Diacono

Tim is interested in the rapid evolution of human society and is passionate about justice, human rights and cutting-edge political debates. You can follow him on Instagram or Twitter/X at @timdiacono or reach out to him at [email protected]