Lawyer's decision to move from AG to Yorgen Fenech team ‘insensitive' - ministry

The Justice Ministry has described as “insensitive” the decision by a lawyer in the Attorney General’s office to switch sides and join the defence team of alleged Daphne Caruana Galizia murder mastermind Yorgen Fenech. 

In a statement, the ministry said it was disappointed to learn that lawyer Charles Mercieca had quit the AG’s office to join Fenech’s defence team. 

It said that following thorough verifications conducted with the Office of the Attorney General, the ministry was informed that Mercieca never worked directly or indirectly on the proceedings related to the Caruana Galizia assassination nor on any proceedings connected to Yorgen Fenech.

Fenech, who stands charged with conspiring to have the late Caruana Galizia assassinated in a 2017 car bomb, is being defended by Gianluca Caruana Curran, an associate in the De Marco law firm and Marion Camilleri, an associate in the Franco Debono law firm.  

“The decision taken by the said advocate to assume the patronage of Mr Fenech at this early moment is insensitive,” the ministry said, adding that it expected “more prudence and caution”, both from the advocate and the legal firm in question.

The ministry said it was committed...