A jury in Malta has acquitted Yorgen Fenech, a prominent businessman, who was accused by prosecutors of orchestrating the 2017 car bomb killing of investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. The verdict, delivered with an 8-1 vote on Wednesday, has reignited calls for accountability on the Mediterranean island.
Daphne Caruana Galizia’s death in 2017 sent shockwaves through Europe, leading to widespread protests that led to the resignation of a prime minister. Known for her investigations into political and business corruption, Caruana Galizia, 53, was killed while driving near her home. Her reports often targeted figures in then-Prime Minister Joseph Muscat’s circle, including allegations of offshore tax haven holdings revealed in the Panama Papers. At the time of her death, she was involved in over 40 libel cases.
The jury’s decision was met with criticism. Outside the courtroom, Fenech faced jeers, and the opposition Nationalist Party quickly organized a demonstration demanding justice. Despite being the final person charged in connection to the plot, Fenech’s acquittal leaves lingering questions and frustrations.
“She knew that the powerful people she was writing about were closing in on her,” said her son Paul Caruana Galizia in 2018. “They were using every possible means to shut her down.”
Following the verdict, Caruana Galizia’s family expressed disappointment. They stated the decision denied the journalist the justice she deserved and highlighted Malta’s institutional failures. “Our country failed to protect Daphne. It owes it to her to prevent other lives being lost,” they said in a statement.
The Maltese government maintained that it supported the investigation while insisting they are committed to justice. Yet, the verdict leaves many within Malta asking who ordered the journalist’s assassination.
Fenech’s arrest in 2019, as he attempted to leave Malta on his yacht, led to massive protests culminating in Muscat’s resignation. Fenech’s acquittal now places renewed focus on Malta’s judicial processes. Tim Gibson, deputy advocacy director for the Committee to Protect Journalists, pledged continued support for Caruana Galizia’s family, stating, “We will continue to seek justice.”
George and Alfred Degiorgio, convicted in 2022, along with other participants, have been sentenced to long prison terms, yet the family and supporters of Caruana Galizia continue to seek comprehensive accountability.