Yorgen Fenech, heir to a major Maltese fortune, stands trial for the murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, accused of commissioning and financing a car bombing that killed her. Matthew Caruana Galizia, the journalist’s son and a software engineer, testified about his mother’s investigative work.
Matthew described how he became involved in his mother’s reporting after working on the Panama Papers investigation in 2015. While processing files from that leak, he discovered information relevant to Malta regarding offshore companies established by government officials. The investigation revealed that Konrad Mizzi, then energy minister, and Keith Schembri, the prime minister’s chief of staff, had set up such companies shortly after taking office with assistance from accountants in opening bank accounts.
At the time of her death, Caruana Galizia was working with her son on documents from an Electrogas company server leak. The company, partly owned by Fenech, had won a government contract to privatize key electricity infrastructure following the 2013 election. Matthew testified that the leaked emails showed Fenech was central to the project and that his mother had planned to collaborate with international news organizations, including the Guardian, to examine the data comprehensively.
After the murder, Matthew established the Daphne Project in collaboration with news outlets including the Guardian and Reuters to continue investigating both Electrogas and the circumstances of his mother’s killing. The subsequent reporting suggested Fenech may have intended to pay bribes to secure the power concession, drawing international attention and a European Parliament investigation. Fenech, Mizzi, and Schembri have all rejected corruption allegations.
Matthew described the moment of the bombing, saying he heard an explosion while working at home with his mother and found the street engulfed in flames with vehicle debris scattered around. He stated he has dedicated himself to ensuring those responsible are held accountable, leaving his career and returning to Malta. Fenech denies charges of complicity in voluntary homicide, and the trial remains ongoing.
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