Maltese businessman acquitted in murder case of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia

A Maltese businessman, Yorgen Fenech, has been acquitted of charges related to the murder of investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. Fenech, 44, faced accusations of complicity in her murder and criminal association to commit murder, which he denied. In 2022, brothers George and Alfred Degiorgio were sentenced to 40 years in prison for their roles in the killing of Caruana Galizia, who was known for her criticism of the government and her investigations into corruption in Malta and abroad. She was killed by a car bomb in October 2017, with speculation that senior figures may have been involved. The jury cleared Fenech of both charges by an 8-1 margin after eight hours of deliberation. Following the verdict, Fenech's family expressed joy in the courtroom in Valletta, while Caruana Galizia's family was visibly upset. In a statement, her family noted that nine years after her assassination, the institutional failures that allowed her murder remain unaddressed. Caruana Galizia was recognized internationally for her work on corruption, money laundering, and organized crime, particularly her involvement in the 2016 Panama Papers investigation. During the trial, it was alleged that Fenech wanted Caruana Galizia killed because she was about to disclose damaging information about him. Fenech, a prominent businessman, was linked to a company that Caruana Galizia had reported on prior to her death. He shifted blame to Keith Schembri, former chief of staff to then-prime minister Joseph Muscat, who was not implicated in the murder. In 2025, two men, Robert Agius and Jamie Vella, were sentenced to life imprisonment for supplying the bomb used in the assassination.