Malta attorney general to appeal acquittal in journalist murder trial

Malta's attorney general is reportedly preparing to appeal the acquittal of businessman Yorgen Fenech, who had been charged with complicity in the 2017 murder of anti-corruption journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. The acquittal came via an 8-1 jury verdict, which prosecutors believe was a grave miscarriage of justice as Fenech was alleged to have commissioned the killing.

Caruana Galizia was killed by a car bomb near her home. While five individuals have been convicted for their roles in carrying out the murder or supplying the explosive device, Fenech's acquittal means no one has yet been held legally responsible for ordering the assassination. The attorney general's office has not yet officially declared its intention to appeal, but media reports citing unnamed sources indicate a push for a retrial.

Under Maltese law, an appeal on points of law can be filed within 15 working days before three judges. The Court of Criminal Appeal may only consider such appeals if it finds a grave irregularity during the proceedings or if the judgment was clearly based on a manifest misinterpretation or wrong application of the law that could have influenced the verdict. The specific grounds for the potential appeal have not been disclosed, though observers suggest it may relate to what evidence prosecutors were permitted to present to the jury.

Matthew Caruana Galizia, the journalist's son, expressed support for the potential appeal, stating that the state must ensure individuals do not get away with murder.