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21 clusters · 103 sources · 107 days · First seen 4 months ago · Last updated 23 days ago

Yorgen Fenech acquittal faces appeal and misconduct claims

Overview

Following the acquittal of Yorgen Fenech in the 2017 car-bomb assassination of investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, the prosecution is expected to appeal the verdict. The Attorney General has formally filed an appeal against the 8-1 jury verdict on charges of complicity in murder and criminal association.

The verdict has triggered allegations of jury interference. Maltese police are investigating potential misconduct, including social media activity and the use of mobile phones during deliberations. Investigations uncovered WhatsApp messages from a jury group titled ‘Il-linja tal-verità’ (The Line of Truth), which contained comments expressing bias against the victim and ridicule of witnesses.

Legal challenges regarding the integrity of the trial have intensified. The defense has requested the discharge of the jury, arguing that court-provided tablets allowed jurors to access 489 media headlines during sequestration, potentially undermining isolation. The prosecution has objected, stating the defense should have raised this earlier and that access does not prove the material was viewed.

During trial testimony, Fenech accused investigators of framing him and protecting former Office of the Prime Minister chief of staff Keith Schembri. Fenech claimed Schembri had expressed a desire to have Caruana Galizia killed and mentioned paying €30,000 for the murder, though prosecutors have challenged Fenech on inconsistencies regarding these claims.

Nine years after the assassination, the movement for justice continues. While several individuals have been convicted, the question of who ordered the killing remains unresolved. International solidarity has grown, with organizations such as the Croatian Journalists' Association joining the #JusticeForDaphne campaign to protest the ongoing struggle for accountability.

Entities

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

Claims

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

[● 34 SOURCES] Daphne Caruana Galizia was killed by a car bomb on October 16, 2017.
[● 32 SOURCES] Yorgen Fenech was acquitted of complicity in murder and criminal conspiracy.
[● 23 SOURCES] Prosecutors accused Fenech of masterminding, ordering, and paying €150,000 for the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia.
[● 20 SOURCES] George and Alfred Degiorgio were convicted of the murder and sentenced to 40 years in prison.
[● 18 SOURCES] Jamie Vella and Robert Agius were sentenced to life imprisonment for supplying the bomb.
[● 11 SOURCES] A 2021 independent inquiry found the Maltese state bore responsibility for the murder due to a culture of impunity.
[● 11 SOURCES] The family of Daphne Caruana Galizia stated that the state failed to protect her and that institutional failures remain unaddressed.
[● 5 SOURCES] A conviction for complicity in wilful homicide carries a potential sentence of life imprisonment.
[● 4 SOURCES] Judge Edwina Grima reminded jurors that any reasonable doubt must be resolved in favor of the defendant.

Timeline

23 days ago

[INTERNATIONAL] 3 sources
Daphne Caruana Galizia assassination: Nine years on, the fight for justice continues
Nine years after the car bomb assassination of Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, activists and journalists continue to demand accountability following the recent acquittal of Yorgen Fenech.
28 days ago

[INTERNATIONAL] 4 sources
Malta jurors' WhatsApp messages spark controversy over Fenech acquittal
Police in Malta uncovered WhatsApp messages from jurors who acquitted Yorgen Fenech, including disparaging remarks about assassinated journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, potentially aiding retrial efforts.
about 1 month ago

[INTERNATIONAL] 2 sources
Yorgen Fenech acquittal surprises majority of Maltese public
A survey shows only 16.1% of people expected Yorgen Fenech's acquittal in the Daphne Caruana Galizia murder trial, with the Attorney General appealing the verdict.
about 2 months ago

[INTERNATIONAL] 8 sources
Malta Attorney General appeals acquittal of Yorgen Fenech in Caruana Galizia murder case
Malta's Attorney General has appealed the acquittal of Yorgen Fenech for the 2017 murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, amid ongoing investigations into jury misconduct.
about 2 months ago

[INTERNATIONAL] 11 sources
Malta: Protests erupt in Valletta following Daphne Caruana Galizia murder acquittal
Thousands protested in Valletta, Malta, after businessman Yorgen Fenech was acquitted of involvement in the 2017 assassination of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.
about 2 months ago

[POLITICS] 6 sources
Malta faces judicial crisis after Daphne Caruana Galizia murder acquittal
Following the acquittal of Yorgen Fenech in the Daphne Caruana Galizia murder trial, Malta faces calls for judicial reform and warnings of corruption risks from the Council of Europe.
2 months ago

[CRIME] 3 sources
Yorgen Fenech acquittal sparks jury interference allegations and retrial calls
Following Yorgen Fenech's acquittal in the Daphne Caruana Galizia murder case, allegations of jury profiling via telephone surveys have emerged, prompting calls for a retrial.
2 months ago

[INTERNATIONAL] 6 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 months 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.
2 months 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.
2 months 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.
3 months 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.
3 months 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.
3 months 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.
3 months 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.
3 months 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
3 months 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
3 months 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
4 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.
4 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.
4 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 · banjaluka.net · bbv-net.de · brandonsun.com · brusselsmorning.com · ca.sports.yahoo.com · cbsnews.com · cde.news · cenzolovka.rs · 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 · efsyn.gr · elbalad.news · emmepress.com · ep01.epimg.net · euobserver.com · euronews.com · europesays.com · eveningreport.nz · foci.444.hu · fr.euronews.com · fr.news.yahoo.com · france24.com · globalnation.inquirer.net · gr.euronews.com · guardianweekly.co.uk · hnd.hr · hotnews.ro · icij.org · ilpost.it · ilpuntonotizie.it · impact.sn · in.gr · independent.co.uk · it.euronews.com

This summary has been updated 32 times: see revision history