Vince Muscat gets 15 years after admitting to Daphne murder
Il-Koħħu pleads guilty to all charges in Daphne Caruana Galizia murder case
Vince Muscat, known as il-Koħħu, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia.
Muscat’s lawyer told a court on Tuesday that his client was registering an admission to all charges he faced in the case, in a momentous turning point for the investigation into Caruana Galizia’s 2017 assassination.
Judge Edwina Grima took note of that admission – a reversal of his previous not guilty plea – and asked him whether he wished to reconsider.
Muscat, however, stood firm.
When the judge asked him whether he wished to have the charges he was admitting read out to him, Muscat spoke out in court for the first time since his arraignment in December 2017.
“No need,” he told judge Grima.
Alfred and George Degiorgio, the two brothers who also stand accused of killing Caruana Galizia, sat nearby, their faces betraying no expression. They remained silent throughout the day’s hearing.
Muscat will serve a 15-year sentence and pay €42,000 in court expenses, after reaching a plea bargain deal with prosecutors to provide information about the murder.
Superintendent Keith Arnaud told the court that Muscat’s information could lead to further arraignments.
Suspected bomb suppliers arrested
As Muscat registered his admission, police officers raided an undisclosed location and arrested tal-Maksar brothers Adrian and Robert Agius and Jamie Vella.
Times of Malta has previously reported that Muscat was willing to name Robert Agius and Vella as the men who supplied the bomb used to kill Caruana Galizia.
Muscat was previously offered €1,500 per month as hush money to keep quiet about the two. His lawyer told Times of Malta last year that he had refused the offer.
Muscat has also secured a presidential pardon in exchange for information about the 2015 murder of lawyer Carmel Chircop, Times of Malta can reveal.
Ministers approved that pardon during a meeting held on Monday afternoon, ensuring Muscat will not face prosecution for his role in that crime.
Plea bargain
Muscat’s guilty plea comes one week after he withdrew a legal challenge to prosecutors in the case, breaking with the legal strategy adopted by the two other men accused of the murder, brothers George and Alfred Degiorgio.
Sources had previously told Times of Malta that Muscat has been cooperating with authorities in the murder case, in the hope of securing a reduced sentence after his bid for a full pardon was denied by cabinet last month.
* Times of Malta 23/02/2021
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“Così abbiamo ucciso Daphne Caruana Galizia”: uno dei tre sospettati si dichiara colpevole dell’omicidio della giornalista https://t.co/FbMXLiCUwb
— Il Fatto Quotidiano (@fattoquotidiano) February 23, 2021
Malta, si dichiara colpevole uno dei sospettati dell'assassinio di Daphne Caruana Galizia: Assieme a George Degiorgio e suo fratello Alfred, Vincent Muscat è accusato di aver piazzato e fatto detonare la bomba che ha ucciso la giornalista investigativa… https://t.co/GJ4eKe235H
— Repubblica (@repubblica) February 23, 2021
Vincent Muscat è stato condannato a 15 anni di carcere per l'omicidio della giornalista #DaphneCaruanaGalizia e sono stati arrestati tre uomini sospettati di aver fornito l'esplosivo per l'omicidio.
Il contesto criminale in cui è maturato l'assasiniohttps://t.co/JzSh58SRUn
— IrpiMedia (@irpinvestigates) February 23, 2021
Today Vince Muscat, one of three men accused of executing #DaphneCaruanaGalizia’s murder, entered a guilty plea.
Read in full the statement that was delivered in court today by a lawyer representing Daphne Caruana Galizia’s family, in the link below:https://t.co/yasrNvufWO
— Daphne Caruana Galizia Foundation (@daphnefdtn) February 23, 2021
Vince Muscat, one of 3 hitmen accused of planting the bomb that killed #DaphneCaruanaGalizia, pleads guilty. #Malta
— Caroline Muscat (@muscatcar) February 23, 2021
1,226 days since #DaphneCaruanaGalizia was killed in a devastating car bomb, we have 1) the first conviction 2) the arrest of the three alleged bomb-makers 3) a potential insight into the 2015 murder of a lawyer. The story is far from over. pic.twitter.com/msBiAQ2XIu
— Herman Grech (@Earthling70) February 23, 2021
#Malta 15 anni al reo confesso dell'assassinio di #DaphneCaruanaGalizia
Il muro dell'omertà che ha circondato l'omicidio della giornalista maltese inizia a sgretolarsi.
Ora i mandanti.
Vince Muscat gets 15 years after admitting to Daphne murder #Invictahttps://t.co/T8Qf4HNO2c— Lorenzo Frigerio (@lorenz_frigerio) February 23, 2021
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Daphne Caruana Galizia: The manoeuvres and twists in another year of drama
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