Lawyer warns adverse media coverage will harm prosecution case in Maksar, Caruana Galizia trials

A cache of registered, legal weapons and large amounts of cash were found at the home of Robert Agius, one of the Maksar brothers, the court hearing the compilation of evidence has heard.

A procession of police witnesses testified this morning as the compilation of evidence against the men accused of the murder of lawyer Carmel Chircop and supplying the bomb which killed Daphne Caruana Galizia continued before magistrate Caroline Farrugia Frendo.

Brothers Adrian and Robert Agius, known as Tal-Maksar, and their associates Jamie Vella and George Degiorgio stand charged with involvement in the murders of lawyer Carmel Chircop and of Daphne Caruana Galizia.

Robert Agius and Jamie Vella are charged with supplying the bomb that killed Daphne Caruana Galizia in October 2017.

Officers gave detailed accounts of how the Agius brothers and Vella were arrested and gave details of the subsequent searches of their vehicles and houses. Mobile phones, SIM cards, starter packs, large amounts of cash and, in Robert Agius’ case, a Luger revolver and ammunition, registered to his partner.

Other police officers described the scene of devastation following the explosion which took the life of Daphne Caruana Galizia.

Lawyer William Cuschieri complained about the fact that his client was being made to sit through the same evidence heard in the Caruana Galizia murder compilation, adding that the adverse media coverage will harm the prosecution case when both cases come before a jury.

The case continues on May 11.

Magistrate Caroline Farrugia Frendo is presiding.

Lawyers Alfred Abela and Rene Darmanin are defence counsel to the Agius brothers. Lawyer William Cuschieri is appearing for George Degiorgio.

Lawyer George Camilleri is representing the Attorney General in the proceedings, while Superintendent Keith Arnaud and Inspectors Shawn Pawney and Wayne Camilleri are prosecuting.

11:49 Abela asks the court about an application he had filed, which has yet to be decreed. The court says it is working on it. There is no indication as to the subject of the application. Laura Calleja

11:49 The sitting is now over; the next sitting will be 11 May. Laura Calleja

11:47 Arnaud says that in the next sitting, nine witnesses have been summoned. Laura Calleja

11:47 Alfred Abela asks what civilian witnesses remain regarding the Chircop murder. Laura Calleja

11:46 Arnaud says that he has no more witnesses to summon today. Laura Calleja

11:45 Another police officer, also from the Mosta police station, now takes the stand. He was one of the first officers on the scene. Laura Calleja

11:42 The witness confirms some documents shown to her and says she has nothing more to add. Laura Calleja

11:42 Shortly afterwards, high-ranking police officers, amongst them then Commissioner of Police and Assistant Commissioner Silvio Valletta, came to the scene. Laura Calleja

11:41 The officer said the car's roof was domed due to the explosion, which made her think that it was no ordinary fire. Laura Calleja

11:39 Another officer from the Mosta police station testifies about the murder of Caruana Galizia. The accused whisper something into their lawyer Alfred Abela's ear. Laura Calleja

11:36 He gives an account of the victim's son accusing a man who he thought was taking photographs of the scene. The situation escalated but was quickly controlled, he says. Laura Calleja

11:35 He then found Matthew Caruana Galizia, who told him that his mother was in the car. Laura Calleja

11:34 He found the car on fire in a field and debris and human remains scattered in the area. Laura Calleja

11:34 Together with two officers, he had gone to investigate the report of an explosion of a vehicle. Laura Calleja

11:33 Another Police Constable who had been stationed at Mosta at the time takes the stand. He will testify about the murder of Caruana Galizia. Laura Calleja

11:33 He was an orderly at the time. He had been asked to print a report for his colleague. "I noticed that the report was about a murder which occurred at Birkirkara recently." He had updated the report to reflect this fact. A sergeant had told Arnaud that nobody had seen the report, he explains. He steps off the stand. Laura Calleja

11:28 The prosecutor shows him a document which the witness is now reading. Laura Calleja

11:27 Another Police Constable takes the stand next. He was stationed at Valletta in 2015. Laura Calleja

11:25 He is shown a report on the finding of the body, which he recognises as having updated. Laura Calleja

11:23 The keys were later returned to the son, he says. Laura Calleja

11:22 Police sergeant Kevin Grima from Birkirkara takes the stand next. He had been present when the victim's son had passed on several sets of keys to garages and cars to the police. One car was a Jaguar, another a SsangYong, he says. Laura Calleja

11:19 The garage door lock appeared to have been shot off, she says. The man's body was half inside the garage. Laura Calleja

11:19 A female Police Constable takes the stand next. She was stationed at Birkirkara on 8 October 2015. She had gone to Rampol Buildings together with another officer and found the body of Carmel Chircop. Laura Calleja

11:17 The constable steps off the stand. Laura Calleja

11:16 The witness recognises the accused in the courtroom. Laura Calleja

11:16 After arresting Adrian Agius, they had gone to Corradino Prison and executed an arrest warrant on George Degiorgio. Laura Calleja

11:15 He had photographed several items found in the vehicle of Adrian Agius. These included a nautical licence issued to a third party, he says. Laura Calleja

11:13 He gives his account of the search for the Agius brothers. Laura Calleja

11:12 Another Police Constable takes the stand next. He is from the Homicide Squad within the Major Crimes Unit. Laura Calleja

11:11 Agius' house search recovered bank cards, electronics, phones, starter packs, top-ups, and a safe inside a wardrobe. Laura Calleja

11:08 The officer is giving an account of the arrest of Adrian Agius and the subsequent sealing of the car. Laura Calleja

11:03 He was involved in the arrest of George Degiorgio and Alfred Degiorgio, he says. He also assisted in the arrest of Adrian Agius. He had found Agius next to a grey SEAT Leon being spoken to by other officers, he says. He had read him his rights. Laura Calleja

11:01 He had met with Matthew Caruana Galizia to ask about the car. He had made use of the car whilst his parents were in another vehicle, says the officer. Laura Calleja

10:59 Another police officer takes the stand. He was ordered to carry out inquiries on CCTV cameras in Bidnija over the Caruana Galizia murder. Laura Calleja

10:59 In a wardrobe, there was a safe containing a Luger revolver with six rounds inside it. Loose rounds of .38 special were also found. Laura Calleja

10:56 He was arrested. During the subsequent search of his residence, Robert Agius' passport was found along with bank cards in his bedside table. Laura Calleja

10:55 He testifies that Robert Agius had been spotted driving and was then seen stopping before talking to someone else, who turned out to be his brother Adrian. Laura Calleja

10:53 A Police Constable from the Major Crimes Unit takes the stand. Laura Calleja

10:52 Magistrate Caroline Farrugia Frendo enters the courtroom, and the sitting begins. Laura Calleja

10:22 The court orders the public out and says it will be taking a break now. Laura Calleja

10:21 A money counter machine under which some €25,000 were found was recovered from Agius' residence garage, says the witness. Laura Calleja

10:19 Jason Azzopardi walks around to the prosecution's bench and whispers something in the inspector's ear. Laura Calleja

10:18 They were all registered under his wife's name, he says. Laura Calleja

10:17 Curmi testifies to having found a large safe where Robert Agius kept his weapons. When it was opened, the police found the weapons to all be unloaded, as they should be. Laura Calleja

10:08 Curmi gives his account of the arrest of Robert Agius. It is identical to that provided by the previous witness. Laura Calleja

10:08 Police Sergeant Kevin Curmi from the Major Crimes Unit takes the stand next. Laura Calleja

10:07 Fleri steps off the stand. Laura Calleja

10:07 The vehicles were sealed in the accused's presence and placed on a low loader, and taken to the Police Headquarters in Floriana. Laura Calleja

10:06 €50,000 cash was found in the Mercedes. Under the driver's seat of the SEAT Leon, there was also a packet of suspected drugs, Fleri says. Laura Calleja

10:04 The police proceeded to arrest the men. Laura Calleja

10:04 Fleri had gone to Bahrija and spotted a Mercedes SUV on its way to Bahrija. When it stopped in a layby, they noticed Robert Agius behind the wheel. A SEAT Leon was also parked next to it, and inside was Adrian Agius speaking to his brother. Laura Calleja

10:03 In February this year, he was handed the search and arrest warrants about the accused. He had divided his men into three teams and tasked them with apprehending one accused each. Laura Calleja

10:02 Superintendent Fabian Fleri from the Major Crimes unit takes the stand next. Laura Calleja

09:59 Lawyer warns adverse media coverage will harm prosecution case in the Maksar and Caruana Galizia trials. Laura Calleja

09:58 Lawyer George Camilleri from the AG says that the prosecution is obliged to present every piece of evidence about the accused in the proceedings against him in the compilation of evidence stage. Laura Calleja

09:58 Degiorgio argues that he has an objection to having to hear the evidence in the murder of Caruana Galizia even in these proceedings. He reserves the right to take legal action in this reply. Laura Calleja

09:54 Reminder: Degiorgio is not accused at this stage in this proceedings with the murder of Caruana Galizia, but only that of Chircop. He is separately accused of the murder of Caruana Galizia, and the Bill of Indictment has been issued. He is awaiting a judgment at appeal about preliminary pleas. Laura Calleja

09:53 Lawyer William Cuschieri stands up. Laura Calleja

09:52 The court orders the prosecution to give a copy of the exhibits to Agius and Vella's counsel and parte civile lawyer Jason Azzopardi by the next sitting. Laura Calleja

09:52 The witness hands the court a copy of the documents he is referred to. The defence requests a copy too. Laura Calleja

09:49 The Sergeant explains this took place after the murder. Laura Calleja

09:49 In the footage, George Degiorgio can be seen piloting the Maya taken from the Grand Harbour. Laura Calleja

09:48 Saliba had examined CCTV stills and surveillance footage of the Maya. 'The Maya' is the name of the boat where the signal to detonate the bomb came from. Laura Calleja

09:46 Saliba now speaks about his part in the investigation into the Caruana Galizia murder. Laura Calleja

09:45 Arnaud shows the witness a copy of a refusal of legal assistance by Adrian Agius. He identifies the accused in the courtroom. Laura Calleja

09:43 Using a series of CCTV stills, Saliba explains the movements of the vehicle. Laura Calleja

09:43 Police sergeant Manuel Saliba takes the stand next. He had assisted Arnaud in identifying the vehicle used in the Chircop murder. He also created a timeline of events that had been exhibited in the acts. Laura Calleja

09:40 Upon a request by Alfred Abela, the court is banning the publication of the residential address of the Agius brothers and Vella. Laura Calleja

09:38 The witness recognises and identifies the suspects in court. Laura Calleja

09:37 The officer says the car was sealed and placed on a low loader. Laura Calleja

09:37 He had subsequently been ordered to guard the suspect during the searches, he says. Laura Calleja

09:35 A copy of the warrant for his arrest was served to him at the scene. Laura Calleja

09:35 He was later stopped by the police and had complied with the police orders. Laura Calleja

09:34 Before the arrest, Agius' grey Mercedes SUV was spotted driving fast, and the driver was identified as Robert Agius. Police followed him. Laura Calleja

09:33 Another constable takes the stand. He had participated in the arrest of Robert Agius. Laura Calleja

09:32 The officer says they were later found to be licensed. Laura Calleja

09:30 Lawyer Alfred Abela asks a question about the weapons. Were they all licensed? Abela asks. Laura Calleja

09:30 Agius was present during the searches, the officer says. Laura Calleja

09:28 A few days later, Agius accompanied the police to the garage where Carmel Chircop was killed and other places related to that murder. Laura Calleja

09:27 Robert Agius was later escorted to the Police Headquarters the same day. Laura Calleja

09:26 External Hard Disks and a memory card were also recovered, the officer says. Laura Calleja

09:26 A search of Agius' house recovered more mobile phones, €25,180 in cash, weapons and ammunition, as well as a printing machine used to print money. Laura Calleja

09:24 €49,500 was also found in a paper bag, says the officer. Laura Calleja

09:24 A sum of €200 in cash was recovered on his person, says the officer. Several sim cards mobile phones were also recovered. Agius had approximately 30 keys on his person. Laura Calleja

09:22 Police had stopped Agius' Mercedes in Bahrija. He was cautioned as soon as he exited the vehicle. Agius was also given a copy of the two warrants against him. Laura Calleja

09:21 A police constable is now summoned to the stand. He gives his account of the arrest of Robert Agius. Laura Calleja

09:19 Theuma had asked to speak to Superintendent Arnaud, who at the time was an inspector, about the murder. In the meantime, the investigation in Theuma regarding money laundering allegations continued. Laura Calleja

09:17 In December 2018, Vella was assigned to the Money Laundering Unit and had been ordered to investigate Melvin Theuma. He had arrested Theuma, who said he had information regarding the case. Laura Calleja

09:16 Vella gives the court a timeline of his involvement in the events. He says he has already testified before a magistrate and has nothing to add. Laura Calleja

09:14 Vella was stationed in Mosta at the time of Caruana Galizia's murder. Vella had gone to the scene and saw the burning vehicle. Laura Calleja

09:13 Inspector Nicholas Vella takes the stand next. Laura Calleja

09:12 Gerada says that on 4 December 2017, he had also taken part in the arrest of 10 persons over the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia. He remembers that Adrian Agius had been among them. Laura Calleja

09:11 Vella had been cautioned before the search. He then called his lawyer before being questioned, says Gerada. Laura Calleja

09:09 From the entrance to the villa, five mobile phones were recovered. In the garage, a Volvo containing two passports and an ID card belonging to Vella were found. His girlfriend's passport was also found together with a GPS device. Laura Calleja

09:07 From the main bedroom, police recovered cash in pound sterling and four Samsung mobile phones. Other items recovered were SIM cardholders and iPhones. Laura Calleja

09:05 Gerada also assisted in the arrest of Jamie Vella. Gerada identifies Vella in the courtroom and gives the background to the arrest and search. Laura Calleja

09:04 Sergeant Jeffrey Gerada from the Major Crimes Unit now takes the stand. Laura Calleja

09:03 The witness has finished, and there are no questions for him. He steps off the stand. Laura Calleja

09:03 Vella was present at all times during the searches of his home, says Azzopardi. Laura Calleja

09:02 Vella was then taken for a swab test and then taken to the police lock-up. Laura Calleja

09:02 Cash, both local and foreign were also found in Vella's garage, Azzopardi says. Laura Calleja

09:01 In Vella's car, photocopies of his girlfriend's passport were found. Other vehicles in the garage were searched, a Mercedes and a BMW. Laura Calleja

09:00 He says two mobile phone boxes were found under the bed. More mobiles were found in the kitchen. The witness couldn't recall exactly how many but says, " there were eight for sure." Laura Calleja

08:58 Police found Vella on the parapet. They asked his name and then arrested him and then started searching his home. Laura Calleja

08:57 Azzopardi participated in the arrest of Jamie Vella, he says. Electronic devices and documents were to be collected from Vella's home in Ibraġ. Laura Calleja

08:56 The first witness is called, police Sergeant Christian Azzopardi. Laura Calleja

08:49 The lawyers and prosecutors stream out of the magistrate’s chambers and assume their usual positions in the courtroom. Laura Calleja

08:48 The lawyers, and prosecutors are in the magistrate’s chambers. The accused men are still in the courtroom, under the watchful eye of armed prison guards, led by Prisons director Alexander Dalli. Laura Calleja

08:43 We are waiting for proceedings to start. Laura Calleja

08:43 Good morning. Laura Calleja

Lawyers Jason Azzopardi and Therese Comodini Cachia are appearing parte civile for the Caruana Galizia family, while lawyer Vince Galea is appearing for the Chircop family.