Maksar brothers say Vince Muscat pardon breached their rights

Ta’ Maksar brothers Robert and Adrian Agius together with their associate Jamie Vella have filed an application in Malta’s highest courts, arguing that the man who named them to the police was given a pardon thanks to ministers who had every interest in protecting him.

In a constitutional application filed on Wednesday morning, the three men mounted a three-pronged challenge to criminal proceedings they are facing and claimed their right to a fair hearing is being breached.

Chief among their objections is the way in which Vincent Muscat il-Koħħu was given a presidential pardon, following a decision to that effect by Malta’s cabinet of ministers. 

They are arguing that some members of that cabinet had every interest in ensuring Muscat, rather than others, received a pardon as they wanted certain facts about the murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia to remain undisclosed. 

Muscat was pardoned for the 2015 murder of Carmel Chircop and then admitted to being one of the hitmen who murdered Caruana Galizia. He is serving a 15-year sentence for that crime.

On the back of evidence provided by Muscat, Robert Agius and Vella stand accused of having supplied the bomb used to blow up...