Cabinet rejects pardon for Daphne Caruana Galizia hitmen
The government has advised President George Vella against granting a pardon to the three alleged hitmen in the Daphne Caruana Galizia murder, who requested immunity from prosecution on major crimes in exchange for information. In a statement, the government said ministers had met to discuss the request by Vincent Muscat, known as is il-Koħħu, and brothers Alfred and George Degiorgio, who are accused of planting and detonating the bomb. Cabinet decided against the pardon after weighing the advice provided by the attorney general and the police commissioner. "The cabinet's decision is not only based on the advice of the relevant institutions, but is also in the national interest and the interest of justice," it said. The statement did not make any reference to the details of the pardon requests. Major crimes However, last month, the Degiorgios each asked for a presidential pardon over their role in the murder in exchange for testimony one of the brothers claimed will implicate an ex-minister and a "middleman" in Caruana Galizia's murder. In the same pardon request, Degiorgio claimed knowledge that could implicate an ex and a current minister for masterminding the botched 2010...