One of three men charged with Caruana Galizia murder claims ‘inhuman’ treatment in prison

George Degiorgio, one of the three men accused of murdering journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, filing a judicial letter yesterday morning, calling on the director of the Corradino Correctional Facility to arrange for medical intervention relating to a “painful condition,” and claiming to be the “victim of inhuman and degrading treatment.”

Degiorgio has been in custody together with his brother Alfred and a third man, Vince Muscat, since their arrest in a targeted police raid on Marsa a year ago.

The judicial letter, filed by lawyer William Cuschieri in the First Hall of the Civil Court, says that Degiorgio has been suffering from “persistent and unendurable pain” in his shoulder for several months. On 14 November, the Criminal Court heard the prison director declare that a private clinic appointment would be made at Degiorgio’s own expense.

Degiorgio claims, however, that no steps have been taken other than the administration of painkillers. Ths, he says, only serves to mask the pain briefly, “and in no way constitutes the care required.”

Accusing the director of being “passive” by failing to see that Degiorgio is examined and treated while under his care, the letter says that this amounts to inhuman and degrading treatment.

The application is one of several constitutional cases filed by the men accused of the murder since their arrest. Last September, Degiorgio filed a constitutional application claiming to be the victim of a frame-up, with the police allegedly seeking to find evidence to justify his detention after his arrest.

The compilation of evidence relating to Caruana Galizia’s murder continues tomorrow before Magistrate Claire Stafrace Zammit.