Hundreds marched in Malta's capital demanding justice for assassinated journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia after the man accused of masterminding her murder was acquitted. The verdict has drawn criticism from press freedom groups and the victim's family, who are calling for accountability and an end to corruption.
The acquittal of a key suspect in the murder of an investigative journalist highlights concerns about corruption, rule of law, and press freedom in Malta, potentially impacting the country's reputation and its standing within the European Union.
A large crowd marched through Malta's capital on Wednesday, demanding justice for assassinated anti-corruption journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. The protest was organized by civil society groups two weeks after Yorgen Fenech, the business mogul accused of masterminding her 2017 murder, was cleared by a jury.
Caruana Galizia was killed by a car bomb in 2017. Three men who planted the bomb and two who produced it are serving lengthy jail sentences. However, Fenech was acquitted of complicity in murder and criminal association following a two-month trial. The verdict has appalled the victim's family and drawn criticism from press freedom group Reporters Without Borders, which stated it was "beyond outraged" by the decision.
Protesters shouted "mafia, mafia" and carried placards reading "Justice Denied," "End impunity" and "We will not look the other way." Malta's attorney general is expected to launch an appeal, though the scope is limited to points of law.
Michael Vella, Caruana Galizia's father, stated in a message read by his niece that the struggle extends beyond accountability for his daughter's death, aiming for a country governed by sound institutions and the rule of law, not corruption and fear. Another niece, Amy Mallia, expressed that Fenech's acquittal evoked the same grief, disbelief, and anger she felt after her aunt's death, emphasizing that some things, like morals and ethics, cannot be bought.
Manuel Delia, a leader of the rule-of-law group Repubblika, called for effective anti-mafia legislation and government action to protect journalists and ensure institutional independence. Malta's government has not made a substantive comment on the verdict, urging caution while an appeal is considered. Prosecutors had alleged that Fenech wanted Caruana Galizia dead because she was about to reveal information about his business dealings, an accusation he denied.