Watch: ‘It’s Very Painful’ – Paul Caruana Galizia Calls Out Snail’s Pace Of Murder Court Case
With the compilation of evidence against Yorgen Fenech now in its fifth year, Paul Caruana Galizia has said the lethargic pace of Maltese justice has hurt his family.
“Yorgen Fenech was charged at the end of 2019,” Caruana Galizia pointed out during a recent Repubblika interview. “Sometimes I have to remind myself that it’s been six years [sic]. It sounds like an obvious thing to say but someone who was 12 back then is now an adult.”
“I don’t know how that works for such a public case that is heard in the public, reported on and so on. For our family, it is certainly very difficult and very painful and it’s become just another war.”
After navigating the murky waters of the justice system for one of Malta’s highest-profile murder cases, Daphne Caruana Galizia’s son believes the time has come to reform the system.
He said families of murder victims should be assigned a police liaison officer to keep them informed of updates in the case, a concept that exists in countries like the UK.
“It’s a good relationship to have and it might produce good information, but we don’t have this idea in Malta,” he said. “When it comes to the magisterial inquiry you’re locked out like everyone else, everything is all secret. And if you are lucky enough that your case makes it to court, then you are in for a whole other world of difficulty.”
Caruana Galiza also called for a revamp of the compilation of evidence system – the process whereby the prosecution presents evidence against a suspect ahead of a trial, which often drags on for years.
“Firstly, I don’t think its consistent with the idea of a jury trial because all the evidence is heard in public before you get to trial,” Caruana Galizia argued.
“Secondly, it always favours the defendant because there are so many delays and opportunities for frustrating the process and stirring up conspiracy theories outside the court that it will aways favour the defendant. Thirdly, it’s unbelievably painful.”
You can watch the full interview below:
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