Malta is awaiting a major verdict in the long-running case surrounding the 2017 killing of investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. The jury trial of businessman Yorgen Fenech has entered its final stage, with a decision expected this week.
Fenech, 44, has pleaded not guilty to charges connected to Caruana Galizia’s assassination. Her death in a car bomb attack shocked Malta, triggered widespread political consequences and attracted international attention to the country’s institutions and justice system.
Yorgen Fenech Faces Serious Charges
Fenech is accused of complicity in the murder of Caruana Galizia and of involvement in a criminal association connected to the killing.
If convicted of complicity in murder, he could face life in prison. A conviction on a lesser criminal association charge could result in a sentence of up to 18 years.
The trial, which began in July, has focused on allegations that Fenech helped organize and finance the plot that led to the journalist’s death.
Witness Testimony and Prosecution’s Case
A key figure in the prosecution’s case has been Melvin Theuma, who is described as an intermediary in the alleged murder plot and later became a state witness.
Theuma told the court that Fenech was involved in arranging and financing the killing and also supported the legal defence of those who carried out the attack.
Prosecutors have argued that financial dealings and other evidence presented during the trial point to Fenech’s involvement. They have urged the jury to find him guilty based on the evidence heard during the proceedings.
Caruana Galizia was killed on October 16, 2017, when a bomb exploded in her car. She was widely known for investigations and reporting involving corruption and political affairs.
Defence Rejects Allegations and Points Elsewhere
Fenech has consistently denied the accusations against him.
His defence team has challenged the prosecution’s case and sought to direct attention toward Keith Schembri, the former chief of staff to then-Prime Minister Joseph Muscat. Schembri was frequently mentioned in Caruana Galizia’s reporting and had previously been a close associate of Fenech.
Schembri has denied any involvement in the murder, while police have stated that he was not considered a suspect in the case.
The killing of Caruana Galizia caused a major political crisis in Malta. Muscat resigned in January 2020 amid the fallout surrounding the investigation, although he was not accused of involvement in the journalist’s murder.
Several other people connected to the attack have already been convicted and received lengthy prison sentences.
With the trial now nearing its conclusion, the jury’s decision in the case against Fenech is expected to be one of the most closely watched moments in Malta’s long-running pursuit of justice for Daphne Caruana Galizia.
