Yorgen Fenech, a Maltese businessman, has been acquitted of commissioning the 2017 murder of investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. The verdict has angered the victim's family and press freedom groups, while the government appeals for calm and notes other convictions in the case.
The acquittal of Yorgen Fenech in the murder of investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia raises serious concerns about accountability for politically sensitive crimes and the safety of journalists in Malta and across Europe. It highlights ongoing challenges in combating corruption and impunity within the European Union.
A Maltese jury has acquitted businessman Yorgen Fenech of commissioning the 2017 car bomb murder of investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, a verdict that has ignited public anger and renewed calls for accountability in the European Union's smallest state.
Fenech, a prominent figure in Malta's business circles, was indicted in 2021 on charges of complicity and criminal conspiracy, with prosecutors alleging he ordered and paid for the assassination. He pleaded not guilty, and the jury delivered an 8-1 verdict of not guilty on both counts. Outside the courtroom, Fenech was met with jeers, and the opposition Nationalist Party organized a demonstration to demand justice.
Caruana Galizia, who was 53 at the time of her death, was known for her extensive reporting on corruption, money laundering, and political misconduct in Malta, often targeting individuals close to the government. Her assassination in October 2017 sent shockwaves across Europe and led to protests that ultimately toppled Prime Minister Joseph Muscat. An independent inquiry later concluded that the Maltese state bore responsibility for the assassination due to a culture of impunity.
Fenech's arrest in 2019, while attempting to sail away from Malta, had triggered significant protests. His acquittal marks the end of the prosecution of individuals directly linked to the plot, though other individuals have been convicted for their roles in the murder.
Caruana Galizia's family expressed their disappointment, stating that the verdict denied her the justice she deserves and that the "institutional failures that enabled her murder remain unaddressed." Press freedom groups have emphasized the need for meaningful reforms to ensure journalists' safety and combat an environment of insecurity and uncertainty in Malta. The government, while acknowledging the verdict, stated its commitment to justice and noted the convictions already secured in the case.