Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1343350
2 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 24 FEBRUARY 2021 NEWS NATIONALIST Party and Opposition leader Ber- nard Grech welcomed the news of Vincent Mus- cat's guilty plea in court today, saying that this de- velopment gives a "new twist" to the case. "Our country has suffered a lot with this crime. Not only in the gruesome way that a journalist, a mother and a Maltese like us were killed in front of her own house, but also with all that we have learned about the involvement of senior officials in the Labor Government in this case," he wrote on Facebook. Vince Muscat is allegedly expected to name- drop a politician in relation to their involvement in "serious cases", but this is yet to be verified. "Three and a half years have been fighting for the truth not to come out. But the truth will come out. And we all have to keep making sure it all comes out," he said. Vince Muscat today pleaded guilty to the pro- ceedings against him in relation to the Daphne Caruana Galizia murder. Together with George Degiorgio and Alfred Degiorgio, Muscat was charged with detonating the bomb that killed the journalist in 2017 moments after exiting her house. Soon after, brothers Adrian and Robert Agius, known by Tal-Maksar, and associate Jamie Vella were arrested under suspicions of having sup- plied the bomb that killed Caruana Galizia. 'The truth will come out' - Bernard Grech reacts to Vincent Muscat guilty plea Interior minister praises police work following development in Caruana Galizia murder case Daphne Caruana Galizia murder KARL AZZOPARDI THE family of murdered journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia have told the court that her murder was intentioned and could have been prevented. In a court sitting on Tuesday morn- ing, Vincent Muscat, known as il- Koħħu admitted to his part in the murder of journalist. Muscat, George Degiorgio and his brother Alfred Degiorgio, are accused of procuring, planting and detonating the bomb that killed Caruana Galizia in October 2017. In a statement read to the court by the family's lawyers following his ad- mission of guilt, the family said she paid with her life, and it is them who are suffering the loss of their loved one. "A person who has admitted his in- volvement in the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia has denied her right to life and has denied her right to en- joy her family, including her grand children who were born after she was killed," the statement read. They went on to say that her murder could have been prevented. "I have said all this because if Daphne Caruana Galizia's family were to re- spond to this admission on the basis of emotion alone, it is obvious what their response would be," the statement went on. The family were also informed by the Attorney General about the pro- cess of the case, and expressed hope that Tuesday's admission would be the next step towards full justice for Daph- ne Caruana Galizia. Victim's family react to Kohhu admission Daphne Caruana Galizia's husband, Peter (centre), with their sons Matthew (far left), Paul and Andrew at a public manifestation calling for justice in the journalist's murder case THE latest developments linked to Daphne Caru- ana Galizia's murder show that the country's insti- tutions are working, Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri said. In his first comments after Vince Muscat plead- ed guilty in court to the murder – a development that kick-started a chain of events – Camilleri praised the police for their work. The brief mention came at the start of Camill- eri's speech in parliament on changes to the Criminal Code. Muscat's admission of guilt was the result of a plea bargain agreement with the prosecution. Superintendent Keith Arnaud told the court that Muscat had cooperated with the police since 2018 and information he gave could lead to third parties being prosecuted. At the same time that Muscat pleaded guilty in court, the police arrested three men believed to have supplied the bomb that killed Caruana Gal- izia. Brothers Adrian and Robert Agius, known as Tal-Maksar, and associate Jamie Vella, were ar- rested and are being questioned at police head- quarters. KARL AZZOPARDI NO names of politicians, past and present, have cropped up yet in con- nection with the Daphne Caruana Galizia murder or other crimes, Rob- ert Abela said on Tuesday. The Prime Minister was taking ques- tions after delivering a brief statement on the latest developments concern- ing the Caruana Galizia murder. Earlier on Tuesday, murder suspect Vince Muscat changed his plea to admit involvement in the Caruana Galizia murder. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison after a plea bargain agreement. The Prime Minister said Vince Muscat's admission and sentencing in connection with the Caruana Galizia murder is a "step closer to justice". "It brings us a step closer to estab- lishing the truth in this dark chapter for Malta and the Daphne Caruana Galizia family," the Prime Minister said. Abela said Cabinet on Monday ac- cepted a recommendation by the po- lice and the Attorney General to grant Muscat a pardon for his involvement in the murder of lawyer Carmel Chir- cop. The Prime Minister said the par- don was ratified by the President on Tuesday and it will be published. Abela said that a number of people had been arrested in connection with the Chircop murder and the police have intensified their investigations in the Caruana Galizia murder case. Abela said today's events were proof of the effectiveness of Malta's insti- tutions. "This is a country where the rule of law prevails," he said, adding his government was committed to see justice prevail in the Caruana Galizia murder case and other unsolved cas- es. No politicians linked to Caruana Galizia murder so far, Prime Minister says Robert Abela