Maltese businessman acquitted in journalist's assassination case
A Maltese court has cleared businessman Yorgen Fenech of charges related to the 2017 car-bomb killing of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. The jury's decision, delivered on 2 September, acquitted him on both counts. The victim's sister said the verdict signals that journalists can be killed with impunity.
The trial, which ran for two months, centered on allegations that Fenech paid €150,000 through intermediary Melvin Theuma to arrange the killing. The jury, composed of six women and three men, voted eight to one to clear him on both counts: complicity in voluntary homicide and criminal association. Fenech's family holdings include two Hilton hotels and a stake in a Maltese power station.
The defense pointed toward Keith Schembri, former chief of staff to ex-prime minister Joseph Muscat, as the alleged mastermind, claiming police failed to adequately investigate that lead. The murder's fallout already forced Muscat and two ministers from office, marking the most significant political upheaval in Malta's postwar history.
This acquittal could embolden those who threaten journalists across Europe, potentially chilling investigative reporting on corruption and organized crime. Press freedom advocates may see this as a setback for accountability, while the prosecution's expected appeal could prolong uncertainty. The verdict may also affect public trust in Malta's judicial system, with citizens possibly questioning whether wealth and political connections can shield individuals from serious criminal liability.