Malta Court Acquits Businessman in Journalist's Murder
A Maltese court acquitted businessman Jorgen Fenech of organizing the 2017 murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, who was known for her investigations into government corruption. The arrest of Fenech in 2019 triggered a political crisis and led to the resignation of Prime Minister Joseph Muscat.
Consensus
- The Maltese court of jurors acquitted Jorgen Fenech of organizing the murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Gallizia.
- Daphne Caruana Gallizia was killed in a car bomb explosion on October 16, 2017.
- Fenech was arrested in 2019 in connection with the murder case.
- Fenech was the last defendant in the case to be tried.
- Five other individuals, including direct perpetrators, had previously been sentenced to prison terms ranging from 15 years to life imprisonment.
- The murder occurred shortly after Caruana Gallizia published a report on the Panama Papers involving Prime Minister Joseph Muscat.
- Fenech was accused of being involved in a criminal conspiracy and of paying 150,000 euros to the killers.
- Fenech maintained his innocence and claimed that Kit Sciberras, former head of the Prime Minister's office, was responsible.
- The case led to a political crisis and mass protests in Malta.
- In 2025, Robert Azzopardi and Jamie Vella were sentenced to life imprisonment for providing the explosive device used in the attack.
Points of divergence
- Fenech was the owner of a company through which high-ranking politicians allegedly funneled money through offshore accounts. — meduza
- The arrest of Fenech in 2018 led to the resignation of Prime Minister Joseph Muskat. — meduza
- Fenech was an hotelier and former director of a Maltese energy company. — kommersant
- Fenech was mentioned in Caruana Gallizia's blog during her investigations. — kommersant
- Fenech was charged with participation in a criminal conspiracy in 2021. — meduza
- The court acquitted Fenech on both counts of murder and criminal conspiracy in 2025. — kommersant
Coverage (3 sources)
- A jury found businessman Jorgen Feneck not guilty of organizing the murder of Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia... — BBC News Русская служба
- Court in Malta acquitted businessman accused of organizing murder of country's most famous journalist. His 2019 arrest led to prime minister's resignation — Meduza
- Maltese court acquits businessman in journalist murder case — Коммерсантъ