A court in Malta has acquitted businessman Yorgen Fenech of the charges related to the murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, which occurred nearly a decade ago.
In the case, five individuals have been found guilty for their roles in the death of the 53-year-old journalist.
Caruana Galizia was known for her investigative reporting on significant corruption within Malta, leading to intense criticism from political figures. A judicial report released in 2021 indicated that this hostility contributed to a “favourable climate” that ultimately facilitated her assassination.
The Maltese court’s ruling exonerating Fenech of masterminding the 2017 murder of the investigative journalist has drawn considerable attention, given that her death led to a governmental collapse and worldwide outcry.
Fenech was accused of orchestrating the car-bomb attack that resulted in Caruana Galizia’s death. Following the court’s decision, her family expressed their dismay, stating that the ruling denies her the justice she rightfully deserves.
Known as a “one-woman WikiLeaks,” Caruana Galizia had exposed deep-rooted corruption among the nation’s political and business elite, bringing global scrutiny to Malta, the smallest member state of the European Union.
Her assassination ignited international outrage and highlighted perceived shortcomings in Malta’s adherence to the rule of law. The fallout from her death also prompted the resignation of then-Prime Minister Joseph Muscat in January 2020, amidst widespread protests over allegations that he was protecting associates involved in the investigation.
A public inquiry lasting two years, which concluded in July 2021, determined that the Maltese state bore some responsibility for the murder due to an “atmosphere of impunity” fostered by the government.
Fenech, whose business ventures include energy and tourism, was apprehended in 2019 while attempting to leave Malta on his yacht. This occurred after a middleman involved in the murder was offered immunity in exchange for providing information about the case.
Prosecutors alleged that Fenech ordered the assassination of Caruana Galizia because she was on the verge of publishing a damaging article about his uncle.
To date, five individuals have been convicted for their involvement, with Robert Agius and Jamie Vella receiving life sentences in June 2025 for supplying the explosives used in the attack. Additionally, brothers George and Alfred Degiorgio, along with Vince Muscat, are currently serving sentences after being found guilty of executing the murder.
The comprehensive report, consisting of 437 pages and authored by a panel of three judges in 2021, concluded that the state failed to fulfill its obligation to protect Caruana Galizia and subjected her to various forms of verbal abuse from political figures. The report emphasized that this environment created a “favourable climate” for her assassination and indicated there was “convincing evidence” that her assassins believed they would receive protection from individuals in high governmental positions.
