# Malta trial of Yorgen Fenech > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/malta-trial-of-yorgen-fenech > Updated: 2026-08-03T15:03:28.000Z. Sources: 14. Developments: 4. The jury trial of Yorgen Fenech opened in Valletta on 1 July 2026, accusing the Hilton Malta heir of commissioning the 2017 car‑bomb murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. Prosecutors seek life imprisonment for homicide and a lengthy term for criminal association. On 13 July 2026, convicted hitman Vince Muscat (Il‑Koħħu) gave detailed testimony, describing how weapons were procured, surveillance was carried out and a bomb was assembled and moved from a garage in Naxxar to another in Santa Venera before being positioned for detonation, even if Caruana Galizia’s family were inside the vehicle. He reiterated the €150,000 payment to the hitmen and hinted at political connections. Further testimony on 16 July 2026 from brothers Alfred and George Degiorgio linked former chief of staff Keith Schembri and former minister Chris Cardona to the plot, with middleman Melvin Theuma confirming Schembri’s involvement. The defendants continue to deny the accusations as the trial proceeds. On 3 August 2026, Matthew Caruana Galizia, the journalist’s son, testified about the extensive Electrogas email cache his mother had been analysing. Prosecutors presented extracts from Fenech’s seized mobile phone showing internet searches for “AK‑47 with suppressor” and emails ordering hand grenades, Glock pistols with suppressors, Scorpion rifles and ammunition to Portomaso Tower, linked to a Bitcoin payment. The judge ruled the material admissible, allowing jurors to view the digital evidence. Prosecutors highlighted that the weapons order and the Electrogas electricity contract—awarded after Malta’s 2013 election—illustrate alleged offshore corruption involving senior officials, with Matthew noting his mother’s emails repeatedly referenced Fenech, reinforcing the connection between the murder and the contested deal. ## Claims - Daphne Caruana Galizia was killed by a car bomb in October 2017. (corroborated by 3 sources) - Yorgen Fenech is accused of commissioning and financing the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia. (corroborated by 3 sources) - Matthew Caruana Galizia testified that his mother was reviewing Electrogas emails on the day of her death. (corroborated by 3 sources) - Electrogas is a company partially owned by Yorgen Fenech and secured a major contract after Malta’s 2013 election. (corroborated by 3 sources) - Phone evidence showed searches for “AK47 with suppressor” and emails about weapons and cyanide orders linked to Fenech. (single source) - The defence argued the weapons email evidence was unrelated to the murder case and should be excluded. (single source) - The judge ruled the weapons and cyanide email evidence admissible in the trial. (single source) ## Timeline ### 2026-08-03: 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 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/yorgen-fenech-trial-reveals-weapons-searches-tied-to-daphne-caruana-galizia-murder ### 2026-07-16: 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. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/malta-trial-of-yorgen-fenech-links-exofficials-to-daphne-caruana-galizia-murder ### 2026-07-13: 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. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/vince-muscat-testifies-on-daphne-caruana-galizia-murder-plot ### 2026-07-01: 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. 8 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/yorgen-fenech-on-trial-in-malta-for-killing-journalist-daphne-caruana-galizia --- Cite as: Malta trial of Yorgen Fenech. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/malta-trial-of-yorgen-fenech