Carmel Chircop died with two gunshot wounds to the stomach

Paramedics recall finding Carmel Chircop’s lifeless body on the dayof the murder 

The compilation of evidence against brothers Adrian and Robert Agius, known as Tal-Maksar, and their associates Jamie Vella and George Degiorgio continued on Monday, with several witnesses testifying about the murder of Carmel Chircop.

The first witness, Miriam Buhagiar, an emergency worker who was working on the day of the murder recalled seeing the lifeless body of Chircop just outside the garage where the shooting took place.

She described the lifeless cadaver “with dilated pupils and no heartbeat.” The body was found face up with two gunshots to the stomach area, while his car was still in the garage.

“The body was cold and the skin was clammy. This shows he had been dead for quite a while,” she said.

Charlene Grech, also an emergency worker at the time, and stationed in the control room described receiving the call early in the morning. Someone had told her Chircop was already dead, but said paramedics still showed up on site.

Alana Caruana, a police sergeant, testified that on 4 December 2017, she was ordered to exhibit an arrest warrant for Jamie Vella. They had gone to his Mosta farm early in the morning. This was the day when police arrested 10 people in connection with the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia but eventually only charged three - George Degiorgio, Alfred Degiorgio and Vince Muscat.

A search was carried out on Jamie Vella and Robert Agius, she said.

Vella and the Agius brothers - Robert and Adrian - had been arrested but later released. They were re-arrested and charged with involvement in the murders of Caruana Galizia and Chircop earlier this year.

At the end of today's sitting, the prosecution and the defence discussed a bail application filed by Adrian Agius.

Prosecutor Wayne Camilleri argued against bail, insisting Agius might try to flee the country or influence witnesses.

Defence lawyer Alfred Abela said proof must be shown of Adrian Agius trying to flee the country. “It’s not enough to say that he has contacts outside of Malta; there has to be proof.”

He also made reference to other murder cases in which the accused were granted bail. Abela insisted that if the AG's office is going to invoke public interest for denying the accused bail, this needs to be proved and clearly specified. He said jurisprudence showed that the severity of the crimes was not enough to justify the continued detention of the accused.

No decision was taken on bail, with the magistrate informing the parties that she will deliver her ruling in camera.

The case will continue on 6 July at 9:00am.

The Aguis brothers are facing charges of involvement in two murders, including that of Daphne Caruana Galizia.

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

Adrian Agius is charged with commissioning the murder of lawyer Carmel Chircop in 2015. Vella and Degiorgio are charged with executing Chircop’s assassination in a garage complex in Birkirkara.

Degiorgio is currently undergoing separate procedures for his involvement in the Caruana Galizia murder.

Key courtroom players

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.

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.

10:09 The case will continue on 6 July 2021 at 9:00 am. Laura Calleja

10:08 No decision has been taken on the bail, and the magistrate will deliver her decision to the accused and his lawyers “in camera”. Laura Calleja

10:03 The prosecutor cites a European Court of Justice decision that said that if the accused can influence witnesses, they should be detained. Laura Calleja

10:02 The prosecutor argues that Carmelo Chircop's murder was "contracted". "We are basing our objection on facts." Laura Calleja

09:59 Abela argues the law is blind, and it is blind for everyone. "If so, Adrian Agius should no longer be detained." Laura Calleja

09:56 The provisions of the Criminal Code regarding bail make no reference to matters of public interest, he argues. Laura Calleja

09:56 Alfred Abela: "It is clear that the Strasbourg Court is saying that there is a justification for the continued detention of a suspect over public interest concerns, as long as this is contemplated in local law. It does not exist in Maltese law." Laura Calleja

09:54 Abela goes through case law and insists that if the AG's office is going to invoke public interest for denying the accused bail, this needs to be proved and clearly specified. He says jurisprudence showed that the severity of the crimes was not enough to justify the continued detention of the accused. Laura Calleja

09:49 Abela makes reference to other murder cases where the accused were granted bail. “So if you are accused of murder, there is no chance of bail?” he asked. Laura Calleja

09:46 “If he was trying to flee the country, he had ample time to do so,” Abela argues. Laura Calleja

09:46 Abela says Agius always cooperated with the police. “His behaviour, even in this court, has always been exemplary.” Laura Calleja

09:44 Defence lawyer Alfred Abela says proof must be shown of Adrian Agius trying to flee the country. “It’s not enough to say that he has contacts outside of Malta; there has to be proof.” Laura Calleja

09:43 Discussing the court application, Prosecutor Camilleri says the presumption of innocence is “sacred”, but there is reasonable suspicion. He says Adrian Agius has contacts from outside the country. “There is a risk of him fleeing.” He objects to the bail request. Laura Calleja

09:37 The magistrate mentions a court application filed by Adrian Agius. Laura Calleja

09:34 The magistrate is now discussing with the lawyers whether there are any other witnesses. It appears to be no other witnesses for today. Laura Calleja

09:33 Caruana steps off the witness stand. Laura Calleja

09:33 Jamie Vella’s father was there, and then Robert Agius and Jamie Vella arrived. A search of them was then carried out. Laura Calleja

09:31 The next witness to take the stand is police sergeant Alana Caruana. She explains how on 4 December 2017, they had to exhibit an arrest warrant for Jamie Vella. They had gone to his Mosta farm early in the morning. Laura Calleja

09:28 Caruana steps off the witness stand. Laura Calleja

09:27 She says they checked his pulse, both on the wrist and neck, as well as his pupils. The pupils were not reactive to light; this indicated he was lifeless. Laura Calleja

09:27 Caruana recalls being escorted to the lifeless body. Describing the site of the murder, she says the body was found in a “pool of blood”. The blood was coming out of the bullet wounds. He was facing towards the ceiling. Laura Calleja

09:23 The witness describes the site of the murder and the “large number of garages” at the complex. Laura Calleja

09:23 She recalls a large number of police officers and that the street was closed off by the police. Laura Calleja

09:21 After the call came in, she had visited the site of the murder after ordered to do so by the control room. Laura Calleja

09:20 Caruana no longer works at Mater Dei Hospital. At the time of the murder, she worked at the Emergency Ward. She was a senior staff nurse. Laura Calleja

09:20 The next witness is Gayle Caruana, a paramedic. Laura Calleja

09:19 The call was received at around 7:00am, she says. Grech steps off the witness stand. Laura Calleja

09:19 Grech never left the control room and never visited the site of the incident. Laura Calleja

09:18 She recalls receiving the call that someone had been shot. She directed the ambulance to the site of the murder. Laura Calleja

09:18 The next witness is Charlene Grech. She currently works at the emergency department, now with children and previously with adults. Laura Calleja

09:16 She says the body was cold, and the skin felt “clammy”, showing that Chircop had been dead for a while. He was certified dead on the spot. She steps off the witness stand. Laura Calleja

09:15 She also recalls how the body was found with two gunshots. His car was still parked inside the garage. Laura Calleja

09:15 She recalls seeing the patient not moving when arriving at the Birkirkara garage. She describes the lifeless cadaver with “dilated pupils and no heartbeat.” Laura Calleja

09:13 She says that on the morning of the murder, she had started her shift at around 7:30am. They were taken to the site of the Carmel Chircop murder. Laura Calleja

09:12 The first witness is an emergency worker who was working on the day of the murder. Laura Calleja

09:08 Magistrate Caroline Farrugia Frendo has entered the courtroom, and the sitting starts. Laura Calleja

09:02 We are waiting inside Hall 12 for proceedings to start. Laura Calleja

09:02 Good morning. Laura Calleja