Daphne's murder plans started two months before – Italian newspaper

The three men charged with the assassination of blogger Daphne Caruana Galizia allegedly started plotting the murder two months before October 16, according to Italian newspaper La Repubblica.

The paper on Thursday revealed a number of details about the investigation citing unnamed sources, saying that brothers Alfred and George Degiorgio, as well as Vince Muscat, had worked out the details of the car bomb – but that an unexpected hitch may have ultimately led to their capture.

The trio allegedly planted the bomb inside Ms Caruana Galizia's car at 2am and Alfred Degiorgio and Mr Muscat waited for the afternoon to confirm her movements. However, George Degiorgio, who was at time waiting off the coast in a cabin cruiser, realised to his dismay that the pre-paid mobile phone he intended to use to detonate the bomb was out of credit, the newspaper said.

It claimed that he had to use another mobile phone – one that was registered in his name – to call the telephone service provider and get a top up. Seemingly oblivious to the fact that this would lead back to him, he then allegedly called the detonator and set off the bomb.

The newspaper also reproduced a chilling text lifted from...