Malta court acquits businessman of car bomb murder of anti-corruption journalist
He was found not guilty of complicity to murder and criminal association after prosecutors said he ordered and paid for the killing.
- On Wednesday, a jury in Malta acquitted Yorgen Fenech of complicity to murder and criminal association in the 2017 car bomb killing of investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.
- Caruana Galizia was killed in Oct 2017 while investigating corruption linked to Prime Minister Joseph Muscat's inner circle, whom she accused of holding offshore companies disclosed via the Panama Papers.
- Prosecutors secured convictions against George Degiorgio and Alfred Degiorgio, who each received 40 years in prison, while middleman Melvin Theuma was granted a presidential pardon in 2019 for his testimony.
- An independent 2021 inquiry concluded the Maltese state "has to bear responsibility" for the assassination, citing a culture of impunity emanating from the highest levels of government on the Mediterranean island.
- Caruana Galizia's death shocked Europe and the European Union, triggering massive protests that toppled Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, as Fenech remained the last of a half-dozen people charged in the plot.
96 Articles
96 Articles
Maltese businessman Yorgen Fenech, accused of ordering the murder of investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, was acquitted in a jury trial on Wednesday. Fenech (44) was charged with complicity in murder and a lesser charge of criminal conspiracy to commit murder. That […] The post Maltese court acquits businessman accused of murder of investigative journalist first appeared on Novi list.
The indictment charged Yorgen Fenech with ordering the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia because she was about to publish an article that would tarnish his uncle's reputation.
Maltese tycoon acquitted of masterminding reporter's murder
The wealthy businessman had stood accused of masterminding the car-bomb killing of 53-year-old Caruana Galizia. Caruana Galizia's family said in a statement that Fenech's acquittal was "denying her the justice she deserves". The European Centre for Press and Media Freedom said that "the failure to ensure accountability in her case sends a disturbing message to those who attack and kill journalists". Dubbed a "one-woman WikiLeaks", Caruana Galizi…
The Maltese businessman was accused of having ordered the car bomb attack which cost the life of the 53-year-old investigative journalist, who was investigating Panama Papers and was about to publish an article threatening one of her relatives.
Die Presse
Thus, the most spectacular murder case in the history of the small EU state has taken an unexpected turn.
Daphne Caruana Galizia was killed by a car bomb in 2017. The main suspect was acquitted on Wednesday.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 50% of the sources lean Left
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
