Outrage mounts in Malta after acquittal over journalist's murder

Valletta, Malta - Angry crowds gathered in the Maltese capital after a tycoon was acquitted of masterminding the 2017 murder of investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. The verdict in the high-profile case triggered protests from civil society groups and international media freedom organizations. The opposition Nationalist Party urged lawmakers to return to parliament for a special session to address the case.

Tycoon Yorgen Fenech was among those celebrating his acquittal, storming out of court to cheers of "Assassin!" from demonstrators. As of now, five individuals have been convicted of supplying explosives and carrying out the killing. The Committee to Protect Journalists vowed to continue seeking accountability for all involved in her murder, while the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom and Reporters Without Borders expressed deep outrage over the acquittal.

Caruana Galizia, dubbed a "one-woman WikiLeaks" for exposing corruption in Malta, was killed in a car bombing. The Committee to Protect Journalists and other watchdogs are now calling for full justice and measures to protect journalists and media freedom in Malta. The government acknowledged the verdict but urged restraint in public commentary. Caruana Galizia's murder has put the EU's smallest member state under scrutiny for alleged rule-of-law issues.