United StatesA Maltese businessman named Yorgen Fenech was acquitted of all charges related to the 2017 murder of investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. The verdict, reached by an 8-1 jury decision, comes nearly nine years after her assassination, which occurred when a bomb was detonated in her car. Fenech, who inherited a large property empire, was indicted in 2019 on charges of complicity and criminal association in the murder. Prosecutors claimed he paid a taxi driver, Melvin Theuma, to orchestrate the attack, though Theuma was later pardoned. Fenech's defense argued that Prime Minister Joseph Muscat's chief of staff, Keith Schembri, ordered the killing. Schembri denied involvement, and police stated he was never a suspect. The acquittal has drawn criticism from international press freedom organizations like Reporters Without Borders, which called the outcome a failure of justice. Five other individuals have already been convicted in connection with the murder.
Bias read (Progressive): The article frames the acquittal as a failure of justice and highlights systemic issues within Maltese institutions, particularly regarding accountability for the murder of a journalist. It emphasizes the role of powerful figures and political connections, suggesting a lack of impartiality in the司法.
