The key witness in the investigation into the murder of Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia has been hospitalised with a slit throat.
Melvin Theuma had received a presidential pardon in return for providing information about the accused mastermind, a businessman with strong links to the Labour Party government, Yorgen Fenech. The names of several leading politicians including disgraced ex-Prime Minister Joseph Muscat have been brought up during the investigation and subsequent court hearings.
Theuma who has admitted to his involvement in the assassination and has promised to give information on others involved was found with his throat slit at home on Tuesday. The property was being guarded by police officers at the time.
The police issued a statement shortly after saying that Theuma was suffering from serious injuries after he “hurt himself”. A police spokesperson then told the media that the multiple stab wounds were “self-inflicted”. He had been found with a knife in his right hand and multiple injuries below his kidneys, wrist, and neck.
Just last week, Theuma admitted he paid some EUR 30,000 to Police Chief Lawrence Cutajar in exchange for the pardon.
Self-stabbing is an incredibly rare method of suicide and accounts for between 1% and 3% of all attempts.
