Daphne Caruana Galizia murder: middleman found with stab wounds ahead of court date - The Guardian
The go-between in the car bombing of the Maltese journalist was found in a pool of blood despite 24-hour police guard.
The self-confessed middleman in the murder of Maltese anti-corruption journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia has suffered serious knife injuries to his throat and torso, authorities and local media said, hours before he was due to give evidence in the case.
Melvin Theuma, a former taxi driver, was found in a pool of blood at his home on Tuesday, police said, and was in hospital in a critical condition.
Theuma was granted a pardon in November to reveal all about the car bomb murder that shocked the Mediterranean island in October 2017, as The Guardian reported.
His evidence so far has implicated a businessman, Yorgen Fenech, the alleged mastermind who was arrested in late November and accused of complicity in the murder. Fenech is awaiting trial and denies the charge.
“First indications are that Melvin Theuma self-harmed but investigations are continuing,” police said in a statement.
The statement said Theuma was found late on Tuesday in a pool of blood at his home by officers who were on around-the-clock guard outside. They were alerted by a lawyer who said he could not reach Theuma by phone.
Media reports in Malta said Theuma’s wounds included serious injuries to his vocal cords and abdomen.
The incident occurred as Theuma was preparing to give evidence in the case in court in Valletta on Wednesday.
Theuma claims he acted as go-between, paying three men who are accused of planting the car bomb, allegedly on the orders of Fenech.
The taxi driver and bookmaker also described how he has since lived in fear of his life and how he had gone to a seminary for confession. “My life ended at 3pm on 16 October 2017,” he told a magistrate, referring to the time and date of the murder.
The Guardian
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