Maltese court clears tycoon of masterminding journalist's murder
The killing of Caruana Galizia in October 2017 shocked Europe and set off a political firestorm in Malta as well as focusing international attention on its police and judiciary.
A court in Malta has acquitted businessman Yorgen Fenech of orchestrating the 2017 murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, almost a decade after her death. Caruana Galizia, a 53-year-old investigative reporter, had exposed high-level corruption in the country, which led to personal attacks from politicians that created a favorable environment for her assassination.
Five individuals have been convicted for their roles in the killing, while Fenech, a tycoon with interests in energy and tourism, was found not guilty of commissioning the murder. The court's decision has been criticized by Caruana Galizia's family, who argue that the acquittal denies her the justice she deserves. The journalist's death sparked global outrage and put Malta in the spotlight for its perceived rule-of-law failings.
A two-year public inquiry in 2021 concluded that the state should bear responsibility for the murder due to the atmosphere of impunity created by the government.
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