Jury in Malta acquits businessman in killing of investigative journalist

A jury in Malta on Wednesday acquitted Yorgen Fenech, a prominent Maltese businessman, of charges related to the 2017 car bomb killing of investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. The verdict came after an 8-1 decision by the jury, which found Fenech not guilty of complicity and criminal conspiracy. He was the last of six individuals charged in connection with the plot to be tried. The acquittal has reignited demands for accountability in Malta, a small European Union member state known for its struggles with corruption and judicial transparency. Daphne Caruana Galizia, 53, died on October 16, 2017, when a car bomb detonated near her home in Mosta, a town outside the capital, Valletta. She was a well-known journalist whose work focused on exposing alleged corruption among politicians and business figures in Malta. Her reporting had targeted members of former Prime Minister Joseph Muscat's inner circle, accusing them of involvement in offshore financial dealings revealed through the Panama Papers. At the time of her death, she faced more than 40 libel lawsuits. Fenech, a businessman linked to a consortium that secured a controversial government contract to build a power plant, was arrested in 2019 as he attempted to flee the country aboard his yacht. His arrest triggered widespread public protests, leading to Muscat's eventual resignation in 2020 amid allegations of corruption. Despite this, Fenech was not directly implicated in Caruana Galizia's killing until 2021, when he was indicted on charges of complicity and criminal conspiracy. During the trial, Fenech maintained his innocence. One of his legal representatives, Gianella De Marco, stated that the jury did not accept the testimony of a key prosecution witness, who had received a presidential pardon in exchange for his account. After the acquittal, Fenech exited the courthouse to a hostile reception, with demonstrators expressing outrage over the verdict. An independent inquiry into the killing, published in 2021, suggested that the Maltese state bore some responsibility for the assassination, citing a systemic culture of impunity rooted in high-level government circles. However, the inquiry did not assign direct blame to any individual or entity beyond highlighting institutional failures. Three of the men accused of carrying out the attack had previously admitted guilt and are currently serving prison terms ranging from 15 to 40 years. Two others convicted of delivering the bomb have received life sentences. Despite these convictions, the identity of the person who ordered the attack remains unclear. The acquittal of Fenech marks the end of one of the longest and most high-profile murder trials in Malta's history. It comes nearly nine years after the bombing, which shocked the nation and drew international attention. Caruana Galizia's family has consistently called for justice, with her children present in court during the proceedings. The ruling has drawn sharp criticism from opposition groups, including the Nationalist Party, which organized a protest following the verdict. They argue that the acquittal undermines efforts to hold powerful figures accountable for crimes committed against journalists. The case continues to be a focal point for discussions on press freedom, governance, and the rule of law in Malta.