Full Breakdown
Malta Court Acquits Businessman Yorgen Fenech in Daphne Caruana Galizia Murder Case
9/4/2026, 8:04:41 PM
Core Event – Verdict and Immediate Aftermath
On September 3 a six-woman, three-man jury in Valletta returned an 8-1 verdict acquitting Maltese businessman Yorgen Fenech, 44, of complicity in the 2017 murder of investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia and of criminal association to commit murder. The decision was announced at 7:30 p.m.; Fenech’s relatives celebrated while the journalist’s family wept. Outside the courtroom, hecklers shouted at Fenech as he left without commenting.
Background & Context – The 2017 Killing and Prior Prosecutions
Caruana Galizia was killed by a car bomb on October 16 2017 near her home in Bidnija. Her reporting on corruption, money-laundering and the Electrogas project had made her a target. The case sparked protests, contributed to Prime Minister Joseph Muscat’s resignation in January 2020, and led to convictions of brothers George and Alfred Degiorgio (40-year sentences in 2022), Vincent Muscat (15 years in 2021), and two men sentenced to life in 2025 for supplying the bomb. Fenech, a shareholder in the contested power-station project, was the last of a half-dozen defendants to face trial.
Data & Statistics – Key Numbers
- Jury vote: 8-1 for acquittal.
- Potential sentence if convicted: life imprisonment.
- Prior convictions related to the bombing: five men sentenced to lengthy terms (two 40-year, one 15-year, two life).
- Investigation revealed middleman taxi driver Melvin Theuma received a presidential pardon in 2019 for testifying.
Official Statements & Responses – Government, EU, Families, NGOs
European Parliament President Roberta Metsola posted on Facebook that the promise made to Caruana Galizia “holds today” and pledged continued support for accountability. The Daphne Foundation condemned the verdict as a failure of the state to protect journalists.
Criticism & Opposition – Press-Freedom Concerns and Political Reaction
Reporters Without Borders called the acquittal “beyond outraged,” warning it reinforces a culture of impunity. The opposition Nationalist Party organized a silent march, respecting the verdict but demanding further inquiry into who ordered the killing. Maltese campaign group Repubblika urged a “national reckoning” and the implementation of recommendations from the 2021 public inquiry that held the state responsible.
On-the-Ground Reports – Courtroom and Street Reactions
Family members of Caruana Galizia were present in the gallery; her sons left without speaking to reporters. Outside, supporters held candles and flowers before a portrait of the slain journalist, while others shouted insults at Fenech. Later that evening, a demonstration outside parliament gathered dozens of demonstrators echoing calls for accountability.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps – Appeal Uncertainty
A Reuters report on September 4 cited unnamed sources that the attorney-general intended to appeal the acquittal, suggesting a possible retrial. No official confirmation has been released, leaving the next legal steps unclear.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We believe journalism is the backbone of a democracy,” — Jonathan Borg
