Yorgen Fenech, a prominent Maltese businessman, was found not guilty of complicity in voluntary homicide and association with intention to commit a crime in connection with the death of investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. The jury delivered a complete acquittal on Wednesday evening after what has been described as the longest-running murder trial in Maltese history, spanning 55 days of proceedings.
The verdict has prompted significant backlash from multiple quarters. Caruana Galizia’s family members expressed deep disappointment, with her sister Corinne Vella stating the acquittal “signals you can kill journalists with impunity.” Opposition lawmakers have called for parliament to reconvene for immediate debate on the verdict. Demonstrators assembled outside the parliament building to demand action in response to the decision.
The case carries considerable significance for press freedom advocates across Europe. While five other men were previously convicted of carrying out the assassination and procuring the bomb, Fenech’s acquittal leaves unanswered questions about who orchestrated the killing, particularly given that prosecutors had accused him of paying €150,000 through a middleman to commission the murder. International press freedom organizations expressed strong disappointment, with Reporters Without Borders stating it was “beyond outraged.”
Caruana Galizia had been known for investigating corruption at the highest levels of Maltese politics and business. Following her death, an international reporting collective known as the Daphne Project was established by journalists from multiple organizations including the Guardian, Reuters, the Times of Malta, Le Monde, and Süddeutsche Zeitung to continue her investigative work. The acquittal has intensified scrutiny of Malta’s justice system and its commitment to accountability within the European Union.
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