Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1513303
9 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 17 DECEMBER 2023 NEWS The Planning Authority has been tasked by the Government to commence a partial review of the 2006 South Malta Local Plan, as amended in 2017, specifically for Ħal Far. The current policy designates the Industrial Development Boundary for Ħal Far Industrial Estate as shown in MAP 1 prioritizing the land within this boundary for exclusive industrial use. The policy also recognizes the potential impact of industrial development along the southern section of the estate on the protected Special Area of Conservation Natura 2000 site. Consequently, it mandates a landscaped buffer zone with substantial tree planting of not less than 6 meters in this area of the estate. Therefore, this review proposes the removal of the designated site as shown in MAP 1. The aim is to ensure that the site is either retained or restored where possible, serving as a buffer zone to the Special Area of Conservation (SAC). This approach aims to keep potentially harmful industrial development as distant as possible from the area of high environmental value. The review also proposes to allocate a small portion of the site for low impact sport. To view the objectives and MAP 1, visit the PA's website: www.pa.org.mt/consultation The Planning Authority invites you to submit representations on the proposed objectives. Submissions must be sent via email to the following address: halfar.review@pa.org.mt All submissions must reach the Authority by Thursday 21 st December, 2023. www.pa.org.mt PLANNING AUTHORITY HAVE YOUR SAY OPEN PUBLIC CONSULTATION Partial Review of the 2006 South Malta Local Plan, for Ħal Far (Phase 1 ) MATTHEW AGIUS magius@mediatoday.com.mt A judge has ordered the remov- al of all references to the family nickname "Tal-Maksar" from the bill of indictment issued against Jamie Vella and brothers Adrian and Robert Agius. The men are indicted over their alleged involvement in the 2017 assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia as well as the fatal shoot- ing of Carmel Chircop in 2015. On Friday, Madam justice Ed- wina Grima handed down a de- cision on a number of pre-trial pleas filed by the men's defence lawyers. The judge upheld some of the requests, amongst them the removal of references to the Agius' family nickname, Tal-Maksar, from every head of indictment, but did not extend it to all the acts of the compilation of evidence. The court, howev- er, said that should the jurors be handed a copy of documents or transcripts of testimony from the compilation of evidence, every reference to the nickname must be removed beforehand. The court also partially upheld the defence's argument that any reference to the Agius brothers' past convictions should not be brought to the attention of the jury or mentioned during the trial, except for the purposes of punishment, should they be con- victed. The Registrar of Criminal Courts and Tribunals was or- dered to provide all parties a copy of the inquiry into the murder of Carmel Chircop, together with a report on relevant CCTV foot- age. Objections filed by the Attor- ney General with regards to the defence's intention to summon Yorgen Fenech and George De- giorgio to the witness stand were upheld -in Fenech's regard only if his trial would not have been held by then. The court also upheld a request made by the prosecution, to sum- mon journalists Stephen Grey and Matthew Xuereb to testify, together with a representative from the media house that pro- duced Grey's Wondery podcast. The judge ruled that lawyer Arthur Azzopardi, who had rep- resented jailed hitman Vincent Muscat 'il-Koħħu', until 2019, will be required to testify about facts falling outside the scope of professional secrecy. Should Alfred Degiorgio, 'il-Fu- lu', choose to take the witness stand, he will not be allowed to make reference to his brother George Degiorgio's criminal past. The case was adjourned with no date fixed for its resumption until any related appeals are con- clusively decided. Vella is under- stood to intend to file an appeal. Jamie Vella is being represented by lawyer Ishmael Psaila, while lawyers Alfred Abela and Rene Darmanin are defence counsel to Robert and Adrian Agius. References to 'tal-Maksar' nickname to be removed from jury evidence, court rules Robert Agius (left) and his brother Adrian (right) On Friday Madam justice Edwina Grima handed down a ruling on several requests filed by the men's defence lawyers