Jurors in Yorgen Fenech Trial Arrested for Questioning

Arrest and Investigation Details.

Several jurors who served in the high-profile trial of Yorgen Fenech have been arrested and questioned by police. According to the Times of Malta, three jurors, along with the husband of one juror, were detained by authorities and interrogated at the Financial Crimes Investigation Department (FCID) offices. The questioning took place throughout Thursday, with the first juror being called in before 8 a.m.

The possibility of further questioning of other jurors remains open, sources suggest. The investigation appears to focus on social media posts made by the jurors in the past, and one juror is suspected of having a mobile phone during the trial, which would be a breach of protocol.

Legal Context.

The jurors were released on police bail by Thursday evening, as decisions on further actions are pending. This development follows the trial in which Yorgen Fenech was acquitted by a jury on September 2. Fenech faced charges related to the murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, including being an accomplice and conspiring to have her killed. The jury delivered an 8-1 verdict after deliberating for over eight hours, following 55 days of evidence presentation.

Police Statement and Caution.

In a press statement released later, the police clarified that their investigation pertains specifically to the oath taken by jurors before the commencement of the trial. The focus is on public comments allegedly made by some jurors prior to the jury's proceedings, not on other theories or allegations reported in the media.

The police have urged caution in reporting to prevent speculation that could potentially prejudice the ongoing investigations. This careful approach underscores the sensitivity and complexity of the legal processes involved.