Jurors retrace Chircop murder route in Birkirkara and Santa Venera

Updated 7.30pm

Jurors in the ongoing murder trial of four men accused in the assassination of lawyer Carmel Chircop were taken to key locations linked to the crime during a site visit on Friday.

Adrian Agius. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

Following the morning court session, the accused, jurors, reserve jurors, prosecutors, civil lawyers, and defence teams travelled to Birkirkara, where they began their visit at the garage complex where Chircop was fatally shot in 2015. Jurors were accompanied by state witness Vince Muscat, known as il-Koħħu, who has previously testified about his role in the murder.

Vince Muscat (centre). Photo: Monique Agius

Garage number 46, where Chircop kept his car and was ambushed, was the first stop. Muscat provided a walkthrough of the crime scene. The group then followed the getaway route allegedly used after the murder, as described in Muscat’s testimony.

The next stop was a garage in Santa Venera, where the perpetrators are said to have abandoned the stolen vehicle used in the crime. They were shown a drain pipe in the garage complex where the weapon used in the murder was hidden, allegedly by George Degiorgio or Jamie Vella.

Jamie Vella. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

The jurors were taken to a flat in Santa Venera rented by Vella, where Muscat said he and Degiorgio changed clothes after the murder. The garments were placed into a large garbage bag and thrown away by Muscat and Degiorgio near a school in the vicinity. Muscat had driven Degiorgio afterwards to his car in Ħamrun.

Robert Agius entering the police van after the on site visit. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

Finally, the jurors were taken to Marsa near Tiger Bar where the weapon was disposed of some two or three days after the murder, according to Muscat’s testimony last week.  

The jurors had already heard how they went to the garage in Santa Venera at dusk in Muscat’s car, retrieved the weapon and drove down to Marsa avoiding main roads. Vella got out of the car holding the weapon wrapped in a piece of cloth and threw it into the sea. They had chosen this location because of the silt. 

The courtroom site visit forms part of the trial by jury of Adrian and Robert Agius, Jamie Vella, and George Degiorgio, who all deny involvement in the murder of Chircop. Vella and Robert Agius are also charged with supplying the bomb used in the 2017 assassination of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.

George Degiorgio. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

The trial continues before Madam Justice Edwina Grima. 

Prosecutors Godwin Cini, Danika Vella and Anthony Vella are prosecuting on behalf of the AG Office.

Lawyer Nicholas Mifsud is assisting Adrian Agius.

Lawyers Ishmael Psaila and Amadeus Cachia are assiting Jamie Vella.

Lawyers Alfred Abela and Rene Darmanin are assisting Robert Agius.

Lawyers Noel Bianco and Leslie Cuschieri are assisting George Degiorgio.

Lawyers Jason Azzopardi and Therese Comodini Cachia is assisting the Caruana Galizia family.

Lawyer Vince Galea is assisting the Chircop family.