Maltese tycoon Yorgen Fenech acquitted of orchestrating Daphne Caruana Galizia's murder

Fenech, 44, was cleared of complicity in the murder and criminal association to commit murder by an 8-1 jury margin after eight hours of deliberation, according to the Reuters news agency. His family members screamed with delight in court, while Caruana Galizia's family wept, Reuters reported.

"Nine years after Daphne's brutal assassination, the institutional failures that enabled her murder remain unaddressed and unreformed," the journalist's family said in a statement reported by local media. "Lasting justice means no person should ever face the same risks again. Our country failed to protect Daphne's life. It owes it to her to prevent other lives being lost."

The killing of Caruana Galizia, 53, sparked global outrage and put Malta, the European Union's smallest member state, in the spotlight for rule-of-law failings. Her blog, Running Commentary, exposed corruption at the highest level of Maltese politics and business, and she was deeply involved in the 2016 Panama Papers investigation, which triggered corruption allegations against top government officials.

The murder led to the resignation of then-premier Joseph Muscat in January 2020 amid mass protests over his perceived efforts to protect friends and allies from the investigation. A two-year public inquiry published in July 2021 concluded that the state should "shoulder responsibility" for the murder due to the "atmosphere of impunity" the government had created, according to ABC News.

Fenech, whose business interests spanned the energy and tourism sectors, was arrested on his yacht in 2019 as he tried to sail out of Malta after a middleman in the murder was offered a pardon to identify those involved, ABC News reported. Prosecutors accused Fenech of ordering the journalist killed because she was on the brink of publishing a compromising article about his uncle.

Five people have been convicted so far for supplying the explosives and carrying out the killing. In June 2025, Robert Agius and Jamie Vella were convicted of supplying the bomb that killed Caruana Galizia and sentenced to life in prison. Brothers George and Alfred Degiorgio, along with Vince Muscat, are serving prison sentences after being found guilty of carrying out the murder.

Why This Matters

The acquittal of the alleged mastermind leaves a significant gap in accountability for one of Europe's most notorious political assassinations, raising questions about the rule of law in Malta.
The case has already brought down a prime minister and triggered a state inquiry; this verdict may reignite public outrage and pressure on the government from the EU.
Caruana Galizia's family has warned that the institutional failures enabling her murder remain unaddressed, implying the risk to investigative journalists persists.

Background

Daphne Caruana Galizia was an investigative journalist who gained international prominence for exposing corruption, money laundering, and organised crime in Malta and abroad. She was killed by a car bomb on 16 October 2017. Her murder prompted widespread protests and drew condemnation from the European Union and international press freedom organisations. A public inquiry in 2021 found that the state had created an "atmosphere of impunity" that contributed to her murder. Yorgen Fenech, a wealthy businessman from a prominent Maltese family, was arrested in 2019 after a middleman implicated him. Until this verdict, the case had seen multiple convictions of those directly involved in the bombing.

Key Perspectives

Daphne Caruana Galizia's family: They described the acquittal as denying her "the justice she deserves" and emphasised that institutional failures remain unreformed. They called for systemic changes to prevent future tragedies.

Yorgen Fenech and his supporters: The businessman denied all charges throughout the trial. His acquittal by a substantial jury margin reflects the defence's argument that the prosecution lacked sufficient evidence to prove he orchestrated the murder.

Critics of Malta's justice system: The 2021 state inquiry and the murder conviction of middlemen and bombers suggest a chain of command existed, yet the alleged mastermind has been cleared. This outcome fuels concerns about Malta's ability to prosecute powerful figures.

What to Watch

Whether the prosecution files an appeal and, if so, on what grounds.
Any renewed protests or political fallout in Malta, particularly from civil society and opposition parties.
The European Commission's response — Brussels has previously criticised Malta's rule-of-law record and may apply further pressure.

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