A Maltese jury has found businessman Yorgen Fenech not guilty of masterminding the 2017 car bomb assassination of investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.
Key facts
- •Daphne Caruana Galizia was killed by a car bomb on October 16, 2017.
- •Yorgen Fenech was the final individual of six charged in the murder plot to face trial.
- •In 2021, an independent inquiry found the Maltese state responsible for a culture of impunity surrounding the assassination.
- •Jamie Vella and Robert Agius were sentenced to life in prison in 2025 for supplying the bomb.
- •Vincent Muscat was sentenced to 15 years in prison in 2021 after pleading guilty to his role.
A jury in Malta acquitted businessman Yorgen Fenech on Wednesday of charges related to the 2017 car bomb killing of investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. Fenech had been indicted in 2021 on charges of complicity and criminal conspiracy, with prosecutors alleging he ordered and paid for the assassination. He pleaded not guilty to both counts.
Background of the Case
Daphne Caruana Galizia, 53, was killed on October 16, 2017, when a car bomb detonated as she drove near her home. She was a prominent journalist known for investigating corruption in Malta's political and business sectors, including reports on offshore companies linked to the inner circle of then-Prime Minister Joseph Muscat. At the time of her death, she was facing more than 40 libel lawsuits.
Broader Impact and Legal Proceedings
The murder sparked significant protests in Malta, eventually leading to the resignation of Prime Minister Joseph Muscat. A 2021 independent inquiry concluded that the Maltese state bore responsibility for the assassination due to a culture of impunity. Fenech was the final person of six charged in the plot to be prosecuted. While Fenech was acquitted, other individuals have been convicted for their roles in the killing, including the brothers George and Alfred Degiorgio, who pleaded guilty in 2022 and received 40-year prison sentences.
Timeline
- Oct. 16, 2017Daphne Caruana Galizia was killed by a car bomb.
- 2019Yorgen Fenech was arrested while attempting to leave Malta on his yacht.
- 2021Yorgen Fenech was indicted on charges of complicity and criminal conspiracy.
- 2022George and Alfred Degiorgio pleaded guilty to carrying out the murder.
- 2025Jamie Vella and Robert Agius were sentenced to life in prison for supplying the bomb.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by NPR World.
