A jury in Malta on Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026, acquitted Yorgen Fenech, a prominent Maltese businessman, of conspiracy and complicity in the 2017 car bomb killing of investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. The verdict, delivered in an 8-1 vote, concluded that prosecutors failed to prove Fenech’s involvement in ordering or financing the assassination beyond reasonable doubt.
Fenech was the last of six individuals charged in connection with the plot to face trial. He was acquitted on all counts and exited the courthouse in Valletta to jeers from onlookers. The opposition Nationalist Party subsequently organized a demonstration demanding further accountability.
Caruana Galizia’s murder and its fallout
Caruana Galizia, 53, was killed on Oct. 16, 2017, when a car bomb detonated as she drove near her home in Bidnija. Her death triggered mass protests across Malta, leading to the resignation of then-Prime Minister Joseph Muscat in January 2020 amid allegations that his government had fostered a culture of impunity around corruption.
Her investigative work, which exposed alleged corruption among political and business elites, earned her the moniker the “one-woman WikiLeaks.” She had published reports linking figures in Muscat’s inner circle to offshore companies in tax havens exposed by the Panama Papers, though Muscat and his wife denied any wrongdoing. At the time of her death, she was facing more than 40 libel suits.
Legal proceedings and prior convictions
Fenech was indicted in 2021 on charges of complicity and criminal conspiracy, accused of orchestrating the killing after Caruana Galizia allegedly obtained evidence implicating his uncle in corrupt dealings. He pleaded not guilty and maintained his innocence throughout the trial.
Five others have been convicted in connection with the murder. In June 2025, Robert Agius and Jamie Vella were sentenced to life in prison for supplying the explosives used in the attack. Brothers George Degiorgio and Alfred Degiorgio, along with Vince Muscat, were previously convicted as the bomb makers and executors of the plot.
Fenech’s arrest in November 2019 occurred as he attempted to flee Malta aboard his yacht, following a deal in which a middleman received a pardon in exchange for testimony against him.
State responsibility and ongoing calls for justice
A public inquiry published in July 2021 concluded that the Maltese state bore “responsibility” for Caruana Galizia’s assassination due to a “climate of impunity” cultivated at the highest levels of government. The report recommended structural reforms to strengthen judicial independence and media protections.
Caruana Galizia’s family issued a statement calling Fenech’s acquittal a “denial of justice”, reiterating their long-standing demand for a full accounting of those responsible. Protests erupted outside the courthouse, with demonstrators holding signs reading “Justice for Daphne” and “No impunity.”
Business ties and alleged motives
Fenech, whose business interests included energy and tourism, was involved in a consortium that secured a controversial government contract to build a power station in Malta. Prosecutors alleged his motive was to prevent Caruana Galizia from publishing a story linking his uncle to corruption. Fenech has denied any involvement in the killing or knowledge of the plot.
The trial was conducted under Maltese law, which restricts courtroom cameras and limits public access to proceedings. No additional charges related to the case are currently pending.
International reaction and Malta’s standing
The murder and subsequent legal proceedings drew global condemnation, with human rights organizations and press freedom groups criticizing Malta’s handling of the investigation. The case has been cited as emblematic of broader challenges in combating corruption and protecting journalists in the European Union, particularly in smaller member states.
As of the verdict, no further prosecutions are expected in the case, leaving unresolved questions about the full extent of institutional failures that enabled Caruana Galizia’s killing.