Yorgen Fenech had reportedly consumed so much cocaine that he continued to test positive for the drug a month after his arraignment over the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia.
His lawyers told a court about this, continuing to state that the businessman’s drug addiction emerged on Wednesday as Fenech’s defence team make oral submissions on a lengthy list of pre-trial pleas.
Fenech was arrested on board his yacht in November of 2019 and is awaiting trial for complicity in the journalist’s murder.
Police who interrogated Fenech for hours on an end over a 10 day stretch leading up to the November 30 arraignment knew of the businessman’s drug problem. Inspector Kurt Zahra allegedly told Fenech he had a drug problem and officers were aware he had regularly travelled abroad for rehabilitation.
Shortly after arrest, Fenech was unwell, very agitated and his doctor recommended hospitalisation after administering a tranquilliser his lawyer said. His severe chest pains were attributed to cocaine withdrawal effects, necessitating an angiogram and surgery.
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