Internet State

Yorgen Fenech was acquitted by a jury of ordering the murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, which shocked her family and the public. The trial drew on testimony from Melvin Theuma, who claimed to be the middleman, but his credibility was challenged, and the defense argued that links to other suspects, including Keith Schembri, were not adequately pursued. Caruana Galizia's family and public advocates highlight ongoing institutional failures in Malta that created an "atmosphere of impunity," despite some reforms since her death on October 16, 2017.

A Maltese businessman, Yorgen Fenech, was acquitted of ordering the murder of investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia after a trial that marked the longest-running murder case in Malta's history, lasting nearly seven years; he faced life imprisonment if convicted. The trial revealed significant challenges in the investigation, including evidence of sabotage and leaks, with witnesses indicating that sensitive information was compromised, potentially by high-ranking officials, and two hitmen received life sentences for their roles in the car bombing that killed Caruana Galizia in October 2017. Caruana Galizia's family expressed disappointment at the verdict, describing it as "justice denied," while the attorney general is considering an appeal for a retrial, although both charges against Fenech were dismissed by an 8-1 jury majority.

Maltese businessman Yorgen Fenech, 44, was acquitted of commissioning the 2017 murder of investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, who was killed by a car bomb at age 53; the jury's decision was 8-1, and he faced a potential life sentence had he been found guilty. Caruana Galizia had been targeted for her investigations into political and business corruption in Malta, and at the time of her death, she was facing approximately 40 libel suits. Five people have been convicted in connection with the murder, with three found guilty of carrying it out, and all are currently in jail, while her family continues to demand justice and accountability for the institutional failures surrounding her death.

A jury in Malta acquitted businessman Yorgen Fenech of charges related to the 2017 car bomb killing of investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, marking the end of the prosecution of the last of six individuals implicated in the case. Caruana Galizia, who was 53 at the time of her death, was known for her extensive reporting on corruption, and her assassination led to mass protests and the resignation of then-Prime Minister Joseph Muscat due to allegations of a culture of impunity. In a statement, her family expressed their disappointment in the verdict, stating that nine years after her assassination, institutional failures regarding her murder remain unaddressed, and they emphasized the necessity for reforms to prevent similar tragedies.

A Malta court has acquitted businessman Yorgen Fenech of masterminding the murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, leading to a jury verdict of 8-1 after eight hours of deliberation. If found guilty, Fenech could have faced life imprisonment, while Caruana Galizia’s family expressed their dismay over the lack of institutional reform since her murder in 2017, emphasizing the need for lasting justice. The case has drawn significant international attention, highlighting the connections between Malta's business and political elites, as well as the failures of the country’s authorities to protect the journalist prior to her killing.

Yorgen Fenech, a 44-year-old Maltese businessman, has been acquitted of complicity in the murder of investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, with the jury clearing him by an 8-1 margin after eight hours of deliberation. Caruana Galizia, who was known for her deep investigations into corruption and was a key figure in the Panama Papers, was killed by a car bomb in October 2017 at the age of 53, prompting widespread public outrage and protests. In 2022, brothers George and Alfred Degiorgio were sentenced to 40 years in prison for her murder, and in 2025, two other men were jailed for life for supplying the bomb used in the assassination.

Yorgen Fenech, one of Malta's wealthiest individuals, was found not guilty of complicity in the 2017 murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, with the jury delivering an eight to one verdict on both charges. Prosecutors had argued that Fenech paid €150,000 for the assassination while seeking a life sentence, but the trial raised questions regarding the possible involvement of higher political figures, including former Prime Minister Joseph Muscat’s chief of staff. The verdict is likely to be appealed, representing a significant setback for advocates of press freedom, as Caruana Galizia's murder had ignited waves of anti-corruption activism in Malta.