Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1545750
CONTINUES FROM PAGE 1 He said officers were review- ing individuals who featured prominently in the journalist's reporting while still await- ing forensic results from the crime scene and assistance from the FBI. He maintained that accessing a person's de- tails on the police database did not make them a suspect but was simply part of the team's effort to assess every possible avenue. Another major part of the af- ternoon centred on the phan- tom government job obtained by Theuma before the assassi- nation. Under cross-examination, Arnaud said Schembri was mentioned repeatedly in Theu- ma's recordings, although not in intercepted telephone con- versations. He explained that Schembri instructed Theuma to go to Castille because some- one wanted to speak to him regarding employment. Ac- cording to Theuma's account, Schembri met him at the top of the steps before giving him a tour of Castille. At one point, De Marco jok- ingly asked Arnaud whether he himself had ever been given a tour of Castille, prompting Judge Edwina Grima to in- tervene and direct counsel to confine her questions to mat- ters relevant to the case. Arnaud confirmed that Theuma received cheques in connection with the job, add- ing that the final payment was issued approximately one month before Daphne Carua- na Galizia was murdered. Keith Schembri searches The defence also probed searches carried out at Schem- bri's home and office after his resignation. Arnaud con- firmed police searched Schem- bri's residence and recovered electronic devices belonging to members of his family, in- cluding his wife's tablet and devices belonging to his chil- dren. However, he revealed that Schembri's own mobile phone and laptop were nev- er recovered, explaining that Schembri claimed he had lost his mobile phone before police carried out the search. The issue sparked one of the day's strongest legal ar- guments after the defence claimed records showed Schembri's missing mobile phone remained active until 5:04am on the morning police searched his home, before dis- appearing. The prosecution immediately objected, arguing the defence was selectively relying on ex- pert reports and documents forming part of the magisterial inquiry that had not yet been presented before the jury. Prosecutors Anthony Vella and Godwin Cini maintained that no reference should be made to expert reports before the relevant experts testify under oath before jurors. The defence rejected the objection, arguing the Attorney Gener- al had adopted the same ap- proach during Arnaud's exam- ination-in-chief by referring the witness to evidence ex- tracted from Yorgen Fenech's mobile phone. Defence lawyers further ar- gued that Arnaud had repeat- edly testified investigators en- sured every electronic device at Keith Schembri's residence was collected and they were entitled to confront him with reports suggesting Schembri's own phone and laptop had never been recovered in order to test the consistency of his evidence. Doctor's letter Cross-examination also turned to the so-called 'doc- tor's letter' allegedly passed to Yorgen Fenech by medical doctor Adrian Vella at Schem- bri's request. Arnaud con- firmed the document had been examined for fingerprints and said that although around 70 prints were identified, none belonged to Schembri. Arnaud also confirmed that Adrian Vella had collected the letter from Keith Schembri, to give to Yorgen Fenech. Replying to more questions from the defence, Arnaud confirmed that Theuma had told investigators he feared Schembri would either have him killed or sent to prison. Arnaud also agreed that Theu- ma remained in contact with Yorgen Fenech until the very end. The defence then referred to a photograph of Theuma with Schembri found inside an ice cream box seized by police, suggesting it indicated Schem- bri had been protecting Theu- ma. However, the judge inter- vened before Arnaud could answer, ruling the question was leading. Arnaud's cross-examina- tion is expected to resume on Wednesday. The prosecution is being led by AG lawyers Godwin Cini, Anthony Vella and Danika Vella together with Assistant Commissioner Keith Arnaud and Inspector Kurt Zahra. Yorgen Fenech is being rep- resented by lawyers Charles Mercieca and Gianluca Caru- ana Curran and Giannella de Marco. Lawyers Therese Co- modini Cachia and Jason Az- zopardi are appearing parte civile for the Caruana Galizia family. 5 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 8 JULY 2026 NEWS Defence asks about searches at Keith Schembri's home Former OPM chief of staff Keith Schembri (left) and Melvin Theuma: Yorgen Fenech's defence team have questioned the lead investigator on references to Keith Schembri Assistant Police Commissioner Keith Arnaud (Photo: James Bianchi/MaltaToday)