Acquitted of Daphne Caruana Galizia Murder

Jury Verdict and Courtroom Reaction in Valletta

On a Wednesday evening at 7:30 PM inside courtroom 22 of Valletta’s old-town courthouse, an audible gasp swept through the room as the verdict was read, according to The Guardian. Fenech, the 44-year-old heir to one of Malta’s largest fortunes, had faced a potential life sentence. Following the decision, he walked free after spending nearly seven years in and out of custody. The jury cleared him on both indictment points by an 8-1 margin.

Family members immediately condemned the outcome. Matthew Caruana Galizia, the victim’s eldest son, wrote in a Facebook post cited by The Guardian, “What happened in that room is not justice, but pure evil.” Corinne Vella, the journalist’s sister, told reporters outside the courthouse that the decision signals impunity for violence against reporters. “Everyone is much more vulnerable now, because this signals that you can kill journalists with impunity,” she said, adding that Fenech had previously requested a presidential pardon three times during the proceedings.

Assassination Details and Daphne Caruana Galizia’s Investigations

Daphne Caruana Galizia was killed on October 16, 2017, at age 53, when a bomb placed under the driver’s seat of her rental car detonated yards from her home, shattering the vehicle across a road and a field, according to The Guardian. Her widely read blog, “Running Commentary,” focused on corruption, money laundering, an organized crime syndicate, and political abuse of power. In the months preceding her death, she published reports alleging that then-Minister for Energy Konrad Mizzi and Chief of Staff Keith Schembri had established offshore companies via anonymous trusts, utilizing data tied to the Panama Papers leak.

Five men have previously been convicted in connection with the murder: three for executing the killing and two for supplying the bomb. However, prosecutors maintained that the organizer remained at large until the recent trial concluded.

The Role of Melvin Theuma and Secret Recordings

Taxi driver Melvin Theuma served as a central figure in the prosecution’s case, acting as an alleged intermediary between Fenech and the hitmen, according to The Guardian. Theuma secured a presidential pardon in 2019 in exchange for his testimony. Describing his dynamic with the businessman in court, Theuma stated, “I hung out with a lion, and I am a mosquito.”

The prosecution’s evidence relied heavily on secret audio recordings made by Theuma. In one playback presented to the jury, Fenech could be heard saying, “Don’t worry about me, no one can touch me.” During the trial, Fenech acknowledged paying 400,000 euros through Theuma, but testified that the funds were intended to cover the hitmen’s legal fees and keep the taxi driver quiet. “I never ordered the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia, or anyone else’s. I had no role in her murder,” Fenech told the court. Defense attorneys countered by pointing to Keith Schembri, the former chief of staff to the prime minister and a childhood friend of Fenech, as the true mastermind. Schembri has denied any involvement, and police stated in court that he was never formally suspected of the murder itself.

Political Fallout and Government Resignations

The investigation triggered major political turbulence in late 2019. According to The Guardian, the jury heard testimony regarding leaked investigative details originating from close associates of the prime minister. Schembri faces a separate criminal indictment for allegedly leaking sensitive details of the murder probe to Fenech, a charge he denies.

When police moved to arrest Theuma in November 2019, the administration led by then-Prime Minister Joseph Muscat unraveled. Schembri was detained and resigned. Fenech was intercepted by authorities on his yacht a nautical mile off the coast while attempting to flee toward Sicilia. Muscat stepped down as prime minister two days after Fenech was formally charged. Muscat stated in a comment reported by The Guardian that no one was “immune or exempt from justice.”

International Reaction and Future Legal Steps

International press freedom organizations and European officials condemned the verdict. European Parliament President Roberta Metsola wrote on Facebook, as reported by The Guardian, “When they murdered you, in broad daylight, outside your home, we promised not to let them sweep it under the rug. That promise stands today.” Tom Gibson, the Committee to Protect Journalists’ deputy advocacy director who was present in Valletta, stated that Malta had failed to fulfill promises regarding journalist safety and the rule of law.

An independent public inquiry previously determined that the assassination was both foreseeable and preventable, though Maltese authorities have yet to implement most of its recommendations. The Maltese Attorney General is currently evaluating whether to appeal the verdict and seek a retrial, though legal observers note that overturning an 8-1 acquittal on both charges presents a significant hurdle.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was Yorgen Fenech?

Yorgen Fenech is a Maltese businessman and heir to a prominent family fortune who was tried for complicity and conspiracy in the 2017 murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. A jury acquitted him of all charges in September 2026.

Has anyone been convicted for the murder?

Yes. Five men have been convicted for their roles in executing the attack and supplying the bomb, but the recent acquittal of Fenech leaves the case without a legally established organizer.

What happens next in the legal process?

According to reports from Valletta, the Maltese Attorney General is reviewing the verdict to decide whether to file an appeal for a new trial, though the 8-1 jury decision makes an overturn difficult.