Welcome to our live coverage as the jury trial of Yorgen Fenech over the assassination of investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. We’re on Day 45 of the trial and following Inspector Kurt Zahra and the victim’s son, Andrew Caruana Galizia’s testimony, the accused Yorgen Fenech will now be taking the witness stand.The accused is set to take the witness stand in his own trial over the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia, marking a major moment in proceedings that have now stretched over a month. Since the trial began, the jury has heard testimony from a long list of witnesses, including lead investigator Keith Arnaud, murder middleman Melvin Theuma, the Degiorgio brothers, Keith Schembri and other key figures connected to the case.Police officers and crime-scene experts have also taken the stand, detailing the investigation, the discovery and examination of evidence at the crime scene, and the aftermath of Caruana Galizia’s assassination.In recent sittings, Inspector Kurt Zahra was the last witness to take the stand before Fenech, presenting evidence from the police investigation and challenging Fenech’s account, including material from his 2019 interrogation and messages recovered by investigators.Fenech, who has pleaded not guilty, will now have the opportunity to give his own account directly to the jury, including his alleged relationships with Schembri and Theuma, the payments made to Theuma and his version of events surrounding the assassination.After more than a month of testimony from investigators, experts and key figures in the case, the accused himself is now taking the stand.He is charged with complicity in her murder and criminal association to commit the murder, and is pleading not guilty to both charges.Yorgen Fenech On The Witness Stand15:23- Nine years after his arrest, Yorgen Fenech has taken the witness stand to give his account of the events surrounding the murder.Fenech begins by describing his relationship with Keith Schembri, saying they first met when he was around nine or 10 years old. Schembri was six years older and the two would play football together.He says they later crossed paths in Paceville, where Schembri would frequent a bar, although his brother was closer to him than he was.Fenech says their relationship was renewed in 2013, after Joseph Muscat became prime minister and his father attended a business dinner to which Fenech accompanied him.“I saw Keith there. I hadn’t seen him in years,” Fenech says.He says Schembri later asked his father to connect him with young people in business, and a friendship developed from there.“We spoke regularly and even went abroad. It was a good friendship,” Fenech tells the jury. The prosecution is being led by lawyers Godwin Cini, Anthony Vella and Danika Vella from the Office of the Attorney General, assisted by Assistant Police Commissioner Keith Arnaud and Inspector Kurt Zahra. Fenech is represented by lawyers Charles Mercieca, Gianluca Caruana Curran and Giannella de Marco, while the Caruana Galizia family is participating in the proceedings as parte civile, represented by lawyers Therese Comodini Cachia and Jason Azzopardi.We’ll bring you the latest testimony and key developments from inside the courtroom as they happen. Refresh this page for live updates throughout the day.•