Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1523735
3 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 10 JULY 2024 NEWS MATTHEW AGIUS magius@mediatoday.com.mt CONTEMPT of court proceed- ings against the two brothers convicted of being the trigger- men in the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia will continue in October, after the court was in- formed of a Constitutional case they had filed in May. Alfred and George Degiorgio, who are both serving 40-year jail terms for their involvement in the murder of Daphne Caru- ana Galizia, appeared before magistrate Astrid May Grima on Monday, as proceedings over contempt of court and recidi- vism charges relating to their refusal to testify in criminal pro- ceedings against Yorgen Fenech, continued. The Degiorgio broth- ers are pleading not guilty to those charges. The charges came as a result of that prevarication on the witness stand, in direct contravention of orders to testify issued by Mag- istrate Rachel Montebello and Madam Justice Edwina Grima. Assistant Police Commission- er Keith Arnaud, who is prose- cuting the case against Yorgen Fenech. The Criminal Court had decreed that the Degiorgios must give evidence in those pro- ceedings, in view of the fact that the case against them had been decisively concluded. But when they were called to the stand in April and May this year, they had refused to testify, said Arnaud. "They had told the magistrate that it was because they could incriminate them- selves in some way," he said, af- firming that they had insisted in their refusals, despite the court having explained to them that they had been convicted, which meant that the right not to in- criminate themselves did not apply. The magistrate had subse- quently declared that the De- giorgios were in contempt of court. Cuschieri cross-examined Arnaud on the stand, asking the Assistant Police Commis- sioner whether his clients had explained that they had other pending court proceedings. "They said that they could end up incriminating themselves," Arnaud replied. Cuschieri asked whether Ar- naud was aware of Constitu- tional proceedings that had been filed by the Degiorgios, in which they were contesting their con- viction for the murder. Arnaud replied that he was. The court added that it had been told by Cuscheri's col- league, lawyer Noel BIanco, that another Constitutional case was to be filed on the merits of these cases. "The fact is that they are being forced to testify about things which can be used against them should the constitutional case result in the cancellation of the trial [conviction]. If they are re- tried, their right to fair hearing would have been breached," Cuschieri explained. The case was adjourned to Oc- tober for the prosecution to clar- ify the Constitutional claim. Testifying against Yorgen Fenech 'could incriminate' Degiorgio brothers, lawyers insist CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Fearne is also facing lesser criminal charges. He has pleaded not guilty and the case against him continues on Wednesday. However, an investigation by the Organ- ized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) and the Times of Malta,has revealed that Fearne was targeted by a Steward-fund- ed smear campaign last year with the aim of creating fake stories that attributed corrupt behaviour to Fearne and his political aide Car- men Ciantar. On Monday, Fearne told parliament that he feared that people who spent €6.5 million on a smear campaign against him "could go fur- ther", and asked the Speaker to protect him and his family. In a ruling on Tuesday afternoon, the Speak- er asked the police to ensure that Fearne is provided with the necessary protection. But Farrugia also went one step further and asked the foreign ministry to communicate with the US embassy, adding there may be a case of corporate crime that "needs to be given priority by US law enforcement". Farrugia said the dissemination of disinfor- mation and fake news on MPs was tantamount to an attack on parliamentary democracy. Fearne said he feared people behind smear campaign 'could go further' 'How can you organise a film festival and not have the local film ecosystem involved?' CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 The cherry on the cake was the ap- pearance of Film Commissioner Jo- hann Grech as an actor alongside Brit- ish comedian David Walliams in the film. The film premiered at the Mediter- rane Film Festival last week, causing outrage and ridicule within the Maltese industry. But apart from this extravagance, artists have also questioned why they were sidelined from the festival itself. Galea questioned why the MFC did not approach the MEIA to encourage their members to attend the festival. "How can you organise a film festival and not have the local film ecosystem involved in the event?" The MEIA president noted that such events serve to motivate local talent but instead artists feel diminished when they see that they're not even asked to be a part of the MFC's productions. Galea said there was no open call for Maltese artists to take part in this production. And the film's budget, she noted, was half the €1 million at the disposal of local producers each year. These funds are no longer the respon- sibility of the film commission after an administrative change shifted them to the Malta Arts Council. But the tipping point came when award-winning Maltese actress Lara Azzopardi posted her reflections in a social media post in which she accused Johann Grech of being a bully. Azzopardi called out Grech for prior- itising foreign filmmakers and artists over local ones, calling it "disrespect toward those who are truly talented in Malta." The government has so far failed to react to Azzopardi's accusations. Maria Galea from the MEIA insisted that the industry cannot be split in two. "We believe the two entities [Malta Film Commission and Arts Council] have to collaborate and work together, because there is too much fragmenta- tion in the industry." Questions sent to the Tourism Min- istry that is responsible for the Film Commission remained unanswered at the time of writing. Film Commissioner Johann Grech