Maltese court acquits businessman accused of ordering journalist Caruana Galizia's murder

A Maltese court delivered a verdict on Wednesday in one of the country's most high-profile criminal cases, finding businessman Yorgen Fenech not guilty of charges connected to organizing the murder of journalist and blogger Daphne Caruana Galizia, Maltese media reported.

Fenech was charged in 2021 with complicity in murder and criminal conspiracy. He pleaded not guilty throughout the trial. On Wednesday, the jury determined he was not guilty on either count.

A killing that shook Malta

The 53-year-old Caruana Galizia was killed on October 16, 2017, when a car bomb exploded near her home. She was widely known for her closely followed blog, in which she exposed corruption and criminal activity, including matters tied to the so-called Panama Papers scandal. Her reporting targeted both then-Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and opposition politicians.

Following her death, her sons publicly called for Muscat's resignation, accusing his government of fostering a culture of impunity and turning Malta into a "mafia island." Under pressure over criticism of the murder investigation, Muscat announced his resignation in December 2019.

In total, five people have so far been convicted in connection with Caruana Galizia's killing.