Maltese businessman Yorgen Fenech has been found not guilty of complicity in the murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. The verdict was delivered almost nine years after the attack, leaving the question of who ordered her death unresolved.
Fenech left the courthouse in Valletta on Wednesday evening, facing a crowd of protesters. The jury acquitted him of ordering the murder of Caruana Galizia, who was 53 years old at the time of her death. Her family expressed shock at the verdict, with her son, Matthew Caruana Galizia, criticizing it as a "terrible decision" and calling it "obscene" in a Facebook post.
The murder occurred on October 16, 2017, and while the individuals who executed the bombing have been convicted, the person who commissioned the act remains unidentified. Fenech was previously considered a key figure in the investigation, having been arrested on November 20, 2019, when his yacht was intercepted by a military patrol. He spent over five years in detention before being released on bail in early 2025.
His trial began in the summer of 2026, with eight of the nine jurors rejecting the prosecution's claim that Fenech ordered the murder. The prosecution's case relied heavily on the testimony of Melvin Theuma, a middleman who received a pardon for his cooperation. Fenech's defense challenged Theuma's credibility, citing inconsistencies in his statements.
The prosecution argued that Caruana Galizia was investigating Fenech's business dealings, which provided a motive for the murder, although they acknowledged she was not about to publish any damaging information. Many in Malta expressed outrage over the not-guilty verdict, but there is no evidence suggesting that Fenech did not receive a fair trial.
Caruana Galizia's family is now focusing on institutional failures they believe contributed to the murder, highlighting that necessary reforms have not been fully implemented. An official investigation in 2021 found an "atmosphere of impunity" in Malta that allowed the murder to occur.
While Malta has made some progress in reforms, critics argue that they are insufficient, particularly regarding press freedom. The government has pointed to changes in the judiciary and protections for journalists, which the European Commission has acknowledged as limited progress.
The slow pace of the Maltese justice system has also been criticized, with a report indicating that nearly half of homicide cases from 2010 to 2020 remained unresolved as of mid-2025. Following Fenech's acquittal, Judge Edwina Grima ordered that trial evidence be forwarded to the chief of police for potential further investigations.
Former Prime Minister Joseph Muscat stated that ongoing investigations are being pursued. The Institute of Maltese Journalists has urged authorities to explore all leads from the trial, including those involving former high-ranking officials. The acquittal does not close the case, as many believe that the true orchestrator of Caruana Galizia's murder has yet to be held accountable.