The acquittal of Yorgen Fenech, the businessman charged with financing the assassination of Maltese investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, has prompted sharp condemnation from press freedom advocates and renewed demands for accountability nearly nine years after her killing.
The Valletta Criminal Court found Fenech not guilty on Thursday of complicity in the October 2017 car bomb attack that killed Caruana Galizia outside her home in Bidnija, Malta. The verdict marks a significant setback for prosecutors who had argued that Fenech, a former director of the Tumas Group conglomerate, orchestrated the killing in retaliation for the journalist’s reporting on high-level corruption.
Fenech had faced charges including complicity in murder and conspiring to detonate an explosive device. During the trial, prosecutors contended that he financed the operation carried out by three men already convicted of directly carrying out the bombing. The acquittal leaves unresolved questions about who commissioned the killing and whether higher-level actors will face accountability in connection with what remains one of the most lethal attacks on a journalist in European Union history.
“This verdict represents a failure of justice for Daphne Caruana Galizia, her family, and the countless journalists who depend on the rule of law for their safety,” said the Committee to Protect Journalists in a statement. The international press freedom organization joined European Federation of Journalists and Reporters Without Borders in calling for continued scrutiny of the case.
The ruling has drawn particular scrutiny given the political sensitivity surrounding the killing. Caruana Galizia was one of Malta’s most prolific investigative reporters, maintaining a blog that chronicled alleged corruption across the island nation’s political and business establishment. Her reporting had targeted figures including Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and his inner circle, linking senior officials to offshore companies and dealings involving Azerbaijan’s ruling family. She had faced repeated threats and legal action from those she reported on.
Three men—Vincent Muscat, George Degiorgio, and Alfred Degiorgio—were convicted in 2022 of carrying out the actual bombing and received lengthy prison sentences. A fourth defendant, taxi driver Melvin Theuma, was granted immunity in exchange for testimony. However, prosecutors had pursued Fenech as the alleged mastermind behind the operation, arguing he acted after Caruana Galizia’s reporting exposed his involvement in secret business dealings with prominent politicians.
Fenech was first arrested in November 2019 after police intercepted his yacht as it attempted to depart Maltese waters. Investigators later alleged they found evidence linking him to the murder plot, including communications with intermediaries and financial transactions. His defense team contested the prosecution’s case, arguing the evidence was circumstantial and that witnesses testifying under immunity had provided unreliable testimony.
The acquittal arrives amid ongoing criticism of Malta’s judicial handling of the case. Caruana Galizia’s family has long maintained that a full accounting of her killing requires transparency from investigative authorities, including access to evidence and witness statements that have remained sealed. They have repeatedly rejected settlements with the government and continue to push for a public inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the murder.
The timing of the verdict is significant. It follows a period of relative stability in Maltese politics after Muscat resigned in 2019 amid public protests tied to the investigation. His successor, Prime Minister Robert Abela, has pledged reforms to strengthen rule of law institutions, though critics contend that meaningful change has been limited.
The case has become a touchstone for press freedom advocates across Europe, who argue that the resolution—or lack thereof—of violent attacks against journalists signals a state’s commitment to protecting democratic institutions. Caruana Galizia’s killing drew comparisons to contract killings of investigative reporters in other countries and prompted urgent discussions about the vulnerability of journalists investigating powerful interests, particularly in small jurisdictions where political and economic elites maintain overlapping spheres of influence.
“Investigative journalists serve as essential watchdogs against corruption and abuse of power,” said Aidan McGleenan, a media law specialist at the University of Malta. “When those who attack them operate with impunity, it creates a climate of fear that silences critical reporting and ultimately weakens democratic governance.”
The European Commission has cited the Caruana Galizia case in its advocacy for stronger protections for journalists across the bloc. The killing featured prominently in deliberations leading to the European Media Freedom Act, adopted in 2024, which established safeguards for journalistic independence and required member states to enhance protections for reporters facing threats. The acquittal is expected to intensify debate about whether such legislative measures go far enough to deter attacks on the press and ensure accountability when they occur.
Maltese authorities have defended their handling of the investigation, noting that convictions have been secured against those who carried out the attack. “The justice system has worked to convict those directly responsible for this terrible crime,” a government spokesperson said. “We remain committed to supporting press freedom and the safety of journalists.”
The acquittal does not preclude further legal action. Prosecutors may appeal the ruling, and investigative files related to the case remain subject to ongoing judicial review. Caruana Galizia’s family has indicated they will continue pursuing all available avenues for accountability.
Looking ahead, observers say the case will shape discussions at European Union institutions about strengthening mechanisms to investigate attacks on journalists. The European Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs has scheduled hearings to examine the implications of the verdict for press freedom protections across member states.
International press freedom organizations have called for independent monitoring of the appeal process, should one proceed. “The international community must remain vigilant,” said Rosa Logomte, Europe director for Reporters Without Borders. “The fight for justice in this case is far from over.”
For Caruana Galizia’s family, Thursday’s verdict offers no closure. Her sons, who have championed the campaign for accountability since her death, issued a statement expressing disappointment but vowing to continue their mother’s work through the Daphne Caruana Galizia Foundation. The foundation supports investigative journalism and legal efforts to protect reporters from SLAPP suits—strategic lawsuits against public participation—used to silence critical coverage.
“Today’s verdict does not change our resolve,” the family said. “We will persist until there is complete truth about who ordered our mother’s murder and why.”
The acquittal of Fenech underscores persistent challenges in holding not only those who carry out attacks on journalists accountable but also those alleged to have financed or orchestrated them. It leaves unresolved a central question in the case: whether the full network behind Caruana Galizia’s killing will ever face justice, or whether her death will stand as evidence of the limits of legal accountability when powerful interests are at stake.
Sources
The Guardian view on press freedom: to defend democracy, stand up for journalists | Editorial — https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/sep/03/the-guardian-view-on-press-freedom-to-defend-democracy-stand-up-for-journalists
Source: Guardian International
Corrections
If you believe this article contains an error, contact Herald Express with the source URL and supporting evidence.
Story synopsis gathered from: Guardian International — source
