Businessman found not guilty in assassination of Maltese reporter
A Maltese court has acquitted Yorgen Fenech of involvement in the 2017 car-bomb murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. The verdict drew sharp criticism from her family and press freedom groups. The killing had previously led to political upheaval and the resignation of Prime Minister Joseph Muscat.
The acquittal follows a case that saw Fenech arrested on his yacht in 2019 while attempting to leave Malta, after a middleman in the murder was offered a pardon to name those involved. Prosecutors had argued Fenech ordered the killing because Caruana Galizia was about to publish a compromising article about his uncle.
Five other individuals have been convicted in connection with the murder, including the bomb supplier and the three men who carried out the attack. A 2021 public inquiry concluded the state bore responsibility for creating an "atmosphere of impunity" that enabled the assassination, and the killing ultimately triggered mass protests and the resignation of Prime Minister Joseph Muscat in January 2020.
This verdict may deepen public skepticism about Malta's ability to deliver justice in high-profile corruption cases, potentially eroding trust in its judicial institutions. It could also have a chilling effect on investigative journalism across the EU, as press freedom groups may see the outcome as signaling that those who target reporters can evade accountability. The case's legacy may continue to shape debates about rule-of-law standards in smaller member states.