Police waited seven days to search Keith Schembri's OPM office, court hears

2026-08-20T02:01:41.756+00:00 · Updated 2026-08-20T08:02:30.994+00:00

The trial of Yorgen Fenech, who is accused of complicity in the assassination of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, continued this week with new details emerging in court.

Jurors heard that police waited seven days after arresting former chief of staff Keith Schembri before searching his office at the Office of the Prime Minister.

This information came to light during cross-examination of an inspector. The delay in searching Schembri's office is a significant point in the ongoing proceedings.

Keith Schembri, who served as chief of staff to former Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, was arrested in connection with the Caruana Galizia murder investigation. The search of his office was part of the broader police inquiry into the case.

The trial is closely watched as it seeks to uncover the full truth behind the 2017 car bomb assassination. The court is hearing various testimonies and reviewing evidence presented by the prosecution.

Separately, jurors were also shown footage of Yorgen Fenech's interrogation earlier this week. These proceedings are part of the extensive evidence being presented to the court as the case remains a central focus for justice in Malta.

The trial of Yorgen Fenech continued today, featuring significant courtroom clashes and the defence's ongoing cross-examination of a police inspector. Discussions in court focused on the conduct of the jury, the use of social media, and the evidence presented by the inspector.

A key point of contention involved the analysis of jurors' tablets. The court examined these devices to ascertain whether they had displayed headings of news articles during the trial, a matter that could potentially impact the proceedings.