Former police chiefs did not withdraw police protection to Caruana Galizia

Two former police commissioners declared under oath on Thursday that they had not issued any order to withdraw police protection afforded to Daphne Caruana Galizia, which relatives of the assassinated journalist say was stopped after John Rizzo was replaced as commissioner. 

When testifying in the public inquiry into the assassination, Peter Paul Zammit, who served as police chief between 2013 and 2014, said he gave no order to withdraw protection but left matters as they stood before.

"But we were told that protection had stopped. What have you to say about that?" came the next question by the judges presiding over the inquiry.

"I did not reverse any order,” said Mr Zammit, pointing out that shortly after his appointment, there had been a parliamentary question which had touched upon the subject. 

There was a fixed point at election time and frequent patrols. I confirmed whether that was all and I left matters as they stood," he said.

During his testimony on Tuesday, Mr Rizzo had recalled how police were already keeping regular watch on the Caruana Galizia family home in Bidnija when he had taken over as commissioner and could not recall how or when that protection had...