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PoliticsBusinessman Yorgen Fenech acquitted of complicity in murder of Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia
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Nearly nine years after the car bomb murder of investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia in Malta, businessman Yorgen Fenech has been acquitted of being the mastermind behind the killing. A jury in Valletta cleared the 44-year-old entrepreneur of both complicity in murder and criminal conspiracy charges. The verdict ends one of the longest murder trials in Malta's history and marks an unexpected turn in the most spectacular murder case in the small EU state. Caruana Galizia, 53, was blown up in her car near her home on October 16, 2017. She was renowned for investigating corruption in politics and business. Fenech had close ties to the then-government of Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, who resigned in 2020 amid the murder case and corruption allegations. Three contract killers had previously pleaded guilty and are serving prison sentences of 15 to 40 years. Two other men convicted for supplying the bomb received life sentences. The question of who was behind the attack remains unresolved.
Source report
Businessman Yorgen Fenech on Wednesday in Valletta, Malta. Source: Darrin Zammit Lupi / REUTERS
Nearly nine years after the car bomb murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia in Malta, businessman Yorgen Fenech has been acquitted of the charge of being the mastermind behind the act. A jury in Valletta cleared the 44-year-old entrepreneur of both complicity in murder and criminal conspiracy.
The verdict marks an unexpected turn in what has been described as the most spectacular murder case in the history of the small EU state.
Background
- Caruana Galizia, 53, was killed when her car was blown up near her home on October 16, 2017.
- She was one of Malta's most famous investigative reporters, known for researching corruption in politics and business.
- Fenech had close ties to the then-government of Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, who resigned in 2020 amid fallout from the murder case and corruption allegations.
Trial and Convictions
The acquittal concludes one of the longest murder trials in Malta's history. While Fenech has been cleared, others have been held accountable:
- Three contract killers pleaded guilty several years ago and are now serving prison sentences ranging from 15 to 40 years.
- Two other men, convicted for supplying the bomb used in the attack, received life sentences.
Despite these convictions, the question of who ultimately ordered the attack on Caruana Galizia remains unresolved.
Source: dpa / sebe
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Maltese tycoon Yorgen Fenech acquitted by jury in 2017 murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia