News • February 1 2004

Meinrad Calleja released

The four-week long trial by jury of Meinrad Calleja, 41 of Swieqi, accused of having commissioned the attempted murder of Richard Cachia Caruana, personal assistant to the Prime Minister, came to an end when Calleja was found not guilty by a jury of six votes to three.
Calleja had been accused of having commissioned the attack of 18 December, 1994 when prime witness Joseph Fenech, 'Zeppi l-Hafi' had told the police and the Courts that Calleja had told him in August 1994 to murder Cachia Caruana.
Fenech consequently employed Ian Farrugia and Carmel Attard 'Iz-Zambi' to carry out the murder.
Following the attempt, police investigated Calleja and accused him of having commissioned the murder for retribution of his father's resignation from Commander of the Armed Forces.  Brigadier Maurice Calleja was under pressure from the government to resign after both Meinrad and his sister Calleja had been charged of possession and trafficking of drugs along with Joseph Fenech.
Fenech was awarded a presidential pardon by Prime Minister Eddie Fenech Adami on both the attempted murder and drug charges, as well as a burglary, to reveal details of the murder.
Of the three accused, only Carmel Attard, who pleaded guilty to the charges, was convicted.  Ian Farrugia was liberated, after crime scene witness Nicholas Jensen Testaferrata said he could have possibly seen Joseph Fenech stabbing Cachia Caruana.  The latter always said he never recognised Fenech as his attacker.  Farrugia also said Attard had been asleep in the getaway car when the crime happened.
In Calleja's trial by jury, both Farrugia and Jensen said they had seen Fenech commit the crime.