- Yorgen Fenech has been acquitted in the trial concerning the murder of investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.
- The verdict, delivered late on Wednesday, has angered the victim's family and drawn criticism from press freedom group Reporters Without Borders, which said it was "beyond outraged" by the acquittal.
- Malta's government appealed for prudence, stating: "At this sensitive moment, the government appeals for prudence in public comments that could do more harm than good," and "took note" of the outcome.
- Prosecutors cannot appeal the verdict, except in exceptional circumstances involving points of law.
- Matthew Caruana Galizia, the victim's son, expressed dismay, writing on Facebook: "Terrible decision by the jurors that our country may never recover from. They had a great responsibility to deliver justice. And washed their hands of it."
- The family's statement said: "Nine years after Daphne's brutal assassination, the institutional failures that enabled her murder remain unaddressed and unreformed."
- The family's statement also said: "Lasting justice means no person should ever face the same risks again," and "Our country failed to protect Daphne. It owes it to her to prevent other lives being lost."
Yorgen Fenech, accused of masterminding the 2017 murder of investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, was acquitted by an 8-1 jury vote, leading to widespread outrage. The verdict, announced in Valletta, has been described as a "terrible decision" by Caruana Galizia's family, who expressed their dismay on social media.12
Caruana Galizia, who was killed by a car bomb, had been investigating corruption in Malta's political and business sectors. Her family stated, "Nine years after Daphne's brutal assassination, the institutional failures that enabled her murder remain unaddressed and unreformed". They emphasized that the verdict denied her the "justice she deserves" and called for reforms to prevent future risks to journalists.6
Malta's government has urged calm, stating, "At this sensitive moment, the government appeals for prudence in public comments that could do more harm than good". The acquittal has drawn criticism from press freedom group Reporters Without Borders, which declared it "beyond outraged". Prosecutors cannot appeal the verdict except in exceptional circumstances involving points of law.4
Fenech, who was indicted in 2021, had pleaded not guilty to charges of complicity in murder and criminal conspiracy. The jury's decision has reignited discussions about the culture of impunity in Malta, as an independent inquiry previously concluded that the Maltese state "has to bear responsibility" for the assassination due to systemic failures.
“Reporters Without Borders said it was "beyond outraged" by the acquittal, while Caruana Galizia's son Matthew wrote on Facebook that the jurors "washed their hands of it." The family's statement added that "institutional failures" enabling the murder "remain unaddressed and unreformed," and prosecutors can only appeal on exceptional points of law.”
