#live in court in Valletta - waiting for expected charge of suspect in Daphne Caruana Galizia murder case.
Members of her family are here, and press, awaiting hearing due to begin in 15 minutes
Members of her family are here, and press, awaiting hearing due to begin in 15 minutes
In the courtroom, sitting quietly, are members of Daphne's family - sons Andrew, Paul, and Matthew, her husband Peter and her parents Michael and Rose Vella, and sisters.
There's a Maltese flag, whitewashed walls and wooden benches, and a crucifix opposite the magistrate's bench - she will be Audrey Demicoli.
Music is wafting in from a bar beside the courtroom. Meanwhile, our photographer confirms that businessman Yorgen Fenech, one of the island's richest men, has arrived around the back of the court house.
Arriving in court, Inspector Keith Arnaud, the lead investigator, his colleague Insp Kurt Zahra, and Philip Galea Farrugia, the deputy attorney general.
We understand the charges will be conspiracy, membership of criminal organisation, complicity in willful homicide, complicity in explosion and a request to have assets frozen.
the hearing has started and Yorgen Fenech is sitting on the bench opposite the magistrate
Fenech is wearing charcoal suit, shaven head, dark glasses, black shoes. He is standing up to hear charges.
Fenech has just been charged with the complicity in Daphne Caruana Galizia's murder. Police believe he was the mastermind.
Yorgen Fenech pleads NOT guilty to complicity to murder, membership of criminal organisation, conspiracy in causing an explosion.
Keith Arnaud is explaining the arrest - he says he was arrested at sea on Nov 20 when police noted his boat was heading out to sea. he has been given bail a few times since.
Fenech's lawyer asks if Prime Ministers' top aide and friend, Keith Schembri, has been mentioned in the investigation. Inspector Arnaud says yes. But the magistrates says no more questions about this.
No request for bail.
There is a request to freeze all his (considerable) assets.
Fenech is sitting down again on the bench while they discuss all the details. He is staring ahead, looking pensive (my colleague who can actually see his face tells me)
ANd it's over ... he's led away after a brief chat and pat on the shoulder from his lawyers..
