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14 clusters · 88 sources · 66 days · First seen · Last updated

Yorgen Fenech acquitted in Daphne Caruana Galizia murder

Overview

A Maltese jury has acquitted businessman Yorgen Fenech of all charges related to the 2017 car-bomb assassination of investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. Fenech had faced charges of complicity in wilful homicide and criminal association. The verdict followed an eight-hour deliberation by the nine-person jury, in which only one juror voted for conviction. The decision came despite testimony from prosecution witness Melvin Theuma, who alleged that Fenech orchestrated the murder by paying €150,000 to a middleman. Prosecutors had argued that Fenech funded the attack to prevent Caruana Galizia from publishing information damaging to his business interests. While Fenech has been cleared of ordering and financing the attack, several other individuals previously convicted as the physical perpetrators of the assassination remain serving prison sentences. These include the Degiorgio brothers, who received 40-year sentences, and Vincent Muscat, who was sentenced to 15 years. Other convicted individuals include Jamie Vella and Robert Agius, who received life sentences for supplying the bomb. The acquittal marks the conclusion of the trial for the last of six individuals charged in the case. The assassination of Caruana Galizia, known for her investigations into corruption and international tax evasion, had significant political repercussions in Malta, including the 2019 resignation of then-Prime Minister Joseph Muscat. Following the verdict, the Caruana Galizia family and Nationalist Party expressed profound disappointment, stating that the verdict highlights “ongoing institutional failures and a lack of reform in the country” and that justice remains unfulfilled. Additionally, the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom and the Committee to Protect Journalists criticized the decision, noting that the failure to ensure accountability sends a “disturbing message regarding the safety of journalists.” Following the verdict, the prosecution is expected to appeal the acquittal.

Entities

Yorgen Fenech · Daphne Caruana Galizia · Malta · Melvin Theuma · Keith Schembri

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

Timeline

  1. 2 days ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 5 sources
    Yorgen Fenech acquittal faces potential prosecution appeal in Malta

    Malta's prosecution plans to appeal Yorgen Fenech's acquittal in the Daphne Caruana Galizia murder case, while Archbishop Scicluna warns of ‘national capture’ by informal influence networks.

  2. 4 days ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 68 sources
    Yorgen Fenech acquitted in Daphne Caruana Galizia murder trial

    A Maltese jury has acquitted businessman Yorgen Fenech of complicity in the 2017 car bomb murder of investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, sparking outrage and calls for justice.

  3. 6 days ago

    [CRIME] 11 sources
    Yorgen Fenech trial enters final stage in Malta murder case

    The trial of Yorgen Fenech, accused of masterminding the 2017 assassination of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, enters its final phase as the judge begins summing up evidence for the jury.

  4. 11 days ago

    [CRIME] 6 sources
    Yorgen Fenech denies ordering assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia

    Yorgen Fenech has denied ordering the 2017 assassination of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, alleging he was blackmailed and that former official Keith Schembri was the true architect of the plot.

  5. 13 days ago

    [CRIME] 7 sources
    Yorgen Fenech accuses police of framing him in Caruana Galizia murder trial

    Yorgen Fenech accused investigators of framing him and protecting Keith Schembri during his trial for the murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.

  6. 16 days ago

    [CRIME] 4 sources
    Yorgen Fenech denies ordering Caruana Galizia murder, implicates Keith Schembri

    Yorgen Fenech denied ordering Daphne Caruana Galizia’s murder in court, instead alleging that former official Keith Schembri requested he pass sensitive investigation details to middleman Melvin Theuma.

  7. 16 days ago

    [CRIME] 3 sources
    Yorgen Fenech murder trial faces potential dissolution over juror media access

    The Yorgen Fenech murder trial may be dissolved after defense lawyers argued that court-provided tablets allowed jurors to access hundreds of media headlines, potentially compromising sequestration.

  8. 20 days ago

    [CRIME] 4 sources
    Malta murder trial: Yorgen Fenech alleges former PM Muscat knew of assassination plans

    The trial for the murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia continues in Malta, with defendant Yorgen Fenech alleging former PM Joseph Muscat knew of the assassination plans.

  9. 30 days ago

    [CRIME] 2 sources
    Malta trial of Yorgen Fenech reveals text about celebrating journalist's murder

    Yorgen Fenech, Maltese property heir, is on trial for arranging the 2017 murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia; a protected taxi driver testified he received a text saying he was “preparing champagne” to庆

  10. about 1 month ago

    [POLITICS] 2 sources
    Daphne Caruana Galizia murder trial intensifies as son testifies

    Son Matthew Caruana Galizia testified at Yorgen Fenech’s trial, recounting his mother’s 2017 car‑bomb murder and her corruption probe, while broadcaster Peppi Azzopardi highlighted the laptop’s handover to the

  11. about 1 month ago

    [CRIME] 4 sources
    Yorgen Fenech trial reveals weapons order and corruption links in Daphne Caruana Galizia murder

    Yorgen Fenech’s trial in Malta presented phone evidence of weapons orders and confirmed his alleged role in commissioning Daphne Caruana Galizia’s 2017 murder, with her son testifying about Electrogas email sle

  12. about 2 months ago

    [POLITICS] 2 sources
    Malta Trial of Yorgen Fenech Links Ex‑Officials to Daphne Caruana Galizia Murder

    Yorgen Fenech's Malta trial accuses him of commissioning Daphne Caruana Galizia's 2017 car‑bomb murder; convicted hitmen name former officials Keith Schembri and Chris Cardona as involved.

  13. about 2 months ago

    [CRIME] 3 sources
    Vince Muscat testifies on Daphne Caruana Galizia murder plot

    Hitman Vince Muscat testified that weapons, surveillance and a bomb were prepared for Daphne Caruana Galizia’s 2017 murder, even if her family were present, implicating several suspects in the ongoing trial.

  14. 2 months ago

    [CRIME] 8 sources
    Yorgen Fenech's trial for Daphne Caruana Galizia murder begins in Malta

    Yorgen Fenech's trial in Malta begins, accusing him of hiring hitmen for €150,000 to kill journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia with a car bomb in 2017; prosecutors seek life imprisonment.

Sources

444.hu · aljazeera.com · articolo21.org · autor.aktuality.sk · bbv-net.de · brandonsun.com · brusselsmorning.com · ca.sports.yahoo.com · cbsnews.com · cde.news · cpj.org · cronicadecantabria.com · cyprus-mail.com · dagelijksestandaard.nl · dagens.com · dagensps.se · dan.co.me · daphne.foundation · deutschlandsuchtdensuperstar.de · diebewertung.de · dorstenerzeitung.de · ecpmf.eu · elbalad.news · emmepress.com · ep01.epimg.net · euronews.com · europesays.com · foci.444.hu · fr.euronews.com · fr.news.yahoo.com · france24.com · globalnation.inquirer.net · gr.euronews.com · guardianweekly.co.uk · hotnews.ro · icij.org · ilpost.it · ilpuntonotizie.it · impact.sn · in.gr · independent.co.uk · it.euronews.com · italpress.com · kommunekontakt.dk · kurierverlag.de · leinetal24.de · letemps.ch · lifo.gr

This summary has been updated 20 times: see revision history