As the jury trial of Yorgen Fenech over the assassination of investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia entered its ninth day this morning, one thing has remained constant: a photo on the defence’s team table.The photo is none other than the controversial snap of alleged middleman Melvin Theuma and former OPM Chief of Staff Keith Schembri posing in Castille.Reportedly taken on the day Theuma was given what has been referred to in court as a “phantom government job”, the photo was among the material found inside an ice cream box handed over by Theuma himself to the investigators.It has since emerged that Theuma kept the photo because he “wanted to blackmail” Schembri, with lead investigator Keith Arnaud retelling what the police were told on Day Four of the ongoing trial.Today, as distressing evidence was presented in the courtroom (including Daphne Caruana Galizia’s damaged phone and photos from her wrecked car following the bomb detonation), the photo was still there, sitting prominently on a stand at the defence’s team table.Placed directly in front of lawyer Giannella de Marco and her team, with Yorgen Fenech seated immediately behind them, the photo continues to be displayed as proceedings begin each day. Due to the courtroom layout, the jury (seated facing the judge) does not appear to have a direct view of the image, although jurors have already seen the photograph during witness testimony.Its continued presence comes as the defence has increasingly focused its cross-examination on alternative lines of inquiry, including references to Keith Schembri and former minister Chris Cardona, while questioning aspects of the police investigation. Through its questioning, the defence has sought to highlight gaps, inconsistencies and unanswered questions in an effort to challenge the prosecution’s case and raise reasonable doubt.Arnaud previously jurors that, while Keith Schembri’s name appeared in recordings made by Theuma, he was not implicated in Daphne Caruana Galizia’s murder.Lovin Malta continues to report all the updates from inside the courtroom in an ongoing live blog which you can follow here.•