Members of a criminal gang have been convicted of involvement in the murders of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia and lawyer Carmel Chircop.
A jury found Robert Agius, 41, and his associate Jamie Vella, 42, guilty of complicity in the car-bomb assassination of the journalist by supplying the military grade explosive that killed her in October 2017.
Vella was also convicted, along with Adrian Agius, 46, and George Degiorgio, 62, of involvement in the murder of Chircop who was gunned down as he entered a Birkirkara garage in October 2015.
Vella, who pulled the trigger four times, and Degiorgio were found guilty of wilful homicide, while Agius was found guilty of complicity by commissioning the killing. Robert Agius was cleared of involvement in the murder of Chircop.
In a statement, the Caruana Galizia family said the verdict had brought them "a step closer to justice".
The notorious Ta’ Maksar gang – named after the family nickname of the Agius brothers - have long been on the radar of law enforcement.
They were finally arrested in 2021 after one of Caruana Galizia’s hitmen, Vincent ‘il-Koħħu’ Muscat struck a plea deal with the authorities.
His evidence was crucial in the six-week trial that also heard from 157 witnesses, including the victims’ families, members of the FBI and a former government minister.
The men denied all seven charges laid against them.
The prosecutor has asked for them to be sentenced to life in prison and sentencing will take place next week. The jury of five men and four women delivered their verdicts after nine hours of deliberating.
Soon after the verdict, the court sitting was postponed and George Degiorgio shouted:“I will tell you from where thebomb came from, you made a bad mistake (għamilt żball ikrah).”
It is not known who Degiorgio was referring to.
'Instrumental role' in Daphne murder
Daphne Caruana Galizia was killed in a car-bomb assassination as she drove away from her Bidnija home. Photo: Pippa Zammit CutajarThe verdict is a significant development in the Caruana Galizia murder case, which has attracted worldwide attention.
Prosecutors told the court that the motive for the murder was "her journalistic work".
Three men – Muscat, Alfred Degiorgio and George Degiorgio - are already serving prison sentences after admitting their roles in planting and detonating the bomb.
Prosecutors allege they were hired to carry out the contract killing, paid for by top businessman Yorgen Fenech, who has been charged and will be tried separately.
The trial heard how Robert Agius and Jamie Vella had an “instrumental role” in the murder of Caruana Galizia. Prosecutors said they procured the material needed to execute the murder plan.
The original plan was to shoot the journalist, with Vella providing three rifles and an AK-47 to carry out the job. The plans were changed and Caruana Galizia was murdered in a powerful car bomb instead.
Daphne Caruana Galizia was killed in a powerful car bomb. Photo: Mark Zammit CordinaRobert Agius and Jamie Vella illegally acquired explosives that were to be detonated remotely by a mobile phone. Vella explained to Alfred Degiorgio how to get the bomb to function.
The three hitmen placed the bomb beneath the driver seat in the night and detonated it remotely the following afternoon.
The journalist’s son, Matthew Caruana Galizia gave a harrowing account during the trial of how he discovered his mother was killed in a car bomb outside their family home in Bidnija.
He ran outside toward the main road, where he described seeing fire on the tarmac, pieces of metal and plastic everywhere, and, horrifyingly, "I saw a piece of flesh on the ground".
Murdered over money
Carmel Chircop was murdered as he entered a garage a few minutes walk from his home in Birkirkara. File photoLawyer Carmel Chircop was shot four times as he opened his garage in the Rampol complex, Birkirkara, a short walk from his family home. The murder was commissioned by Adrian Agius after he failed to repay in full a €700,000 debt to Chircop, stemming from a €3 million deal over a warehouse in Qormi.
Prosecutors said George Degiorgio was approached to carry out the murder. Degiorgio brought in Vince Muscat and Jamie Vella, and the men reportedly received €20,000 for the job.
“They cut his life short, not to pay the money they owed him. That’s how much life costs, €20,000 (the sum allegedly paid to the hitmen),” Attorney General lawyer Anthony Vella told the court.
On the morning of the murder, Degiorgio, Muscat, and Vella positioned themselves on a higher floor of the garage complex to confirm Chircop’s arrival.
As Chircop opened the door to his garage, Degiorgio drove up to him. Vella, seated behind Degiorgio, rolled down the window and fired the fatal shots at close range.
Although Adrian Agius had initially been arrested days after the murder, insufficient evidence prevented formal charges. That changed when Vince Muscat turned state witness, implicating the group and detailing the planning and execution.
The agreement prosecutors saw as the motive of the murder was later challenged and cancelled in 2017 after an out-of-court settlement.
LIVE BLOG
8.25pm We'll end this live blog here but will continue to update the story with any further developments.
George Degiorgio shouts out
7.25pm The sitting is postponed until 7.45pm. While the sitting was postponed, George Degiorgio shouted: “I will tell you where the bomb came from. You made a serious mistake." (Għamilt żball kbir).
We do not know who it was addressed to, but all plainclothes police are on their feet.
Count 4: Carrying a weapon without a valid licence in Chircop murder
7.23pm George Degiorgio found guilty (7-2). Jamie Vella found guilty (7-2).
Count 3: Possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime in Chircop murder
7.23pm George Degiorgio found guilty (7-2). Jamie Vella found guilty (7-2).
Count 7: Possessing dangerous explosives in Caruana Galizia murder
7.24pm Robert Agius found guilty (8-1). Jamie Vella found guilty (8-1).
Count 6: Complicity in the explosion that caused the death of Daphne Caruana
7.18pm Robert Agius found guilty (8-1). Jamie Vella found guilty (8-1).
Count 5: Complicity in the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia
7.18pm Robert Agius found guilty (8-1). Jamie Vella found guilty (8-1).
Count 2: Complicity in the murder of Carmel Chircop
7.15pm Adrian Agius has been found guilty of complicity in the murder of Carmel Chircop (7-2) but his brother Robert Agius has been found not guilty (6-3).
Count one: Guilty of murder of Carmel Chircop
7pm Jamie Vella and George Degiorgio are found guilty of the murder of Carmel Chircop.
Jurors called in
7.12pm The jury of five men and four women take their seats. Everyone is asked to sit down except the accused.
Journalist's elderly father, sister in court
7pm It's a packed courtroom. There are more than 10 police officers in the gallery, court martials, the four accused, lawyers, prosecutors and members of the media.
Daphne Caruana Galizia's father Michael Vella and sister Helene Asciak enter court. Photo: Chris Sant FournierAccused enter the courtoom
7pm The four men accused in this case have entered the courtroom. While the jury has been deliberating, they've been waiting at the Corradino Correctional Facility, where they've been held on remand since their arrests in 2021.
Family, media, police await verdict
6.53pm Among the people waiting to hear this verdict, following a six-week trial, are Daphne Caruana Galizia's father, sons, husband and sisters.