A Maltese businessman, Yorgen Fenech, was found not guilty of charges related to the 2017 murder of investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. Fenech, 44, had faced accusations of complicity in her murder and of being part of a criminal group that planned it. He denied all the charges. The acquittal was decided by an 8-1 jury after eight hours of deliberation, according to Reuters. Caruana Galizia, who was 53 at the time of her death, was killed by a car bomb in October 2017. She was a prominent critic of the Maltese government and had uncovered evidence of corruption both in Malta and abroad. Her death sparked widespread public anger and protests across the country. She was known for her fearless reporting on issues like money laundering and organized crime, which she published on her blog, Running Commentary. In 2022, two brothers, George and Alfred Degiorgio, were sentenced to 40 years in prison for their roles in her murder. In 2025, two other men, Robert Agius and Jamie Vella, received life sentences for supplying the bomb used in the attack. During the trial, Fenech’s family reportedly celebrated in the courtroom, while Caruana Galizia’s family expressed deep sorrow. They stated that systemic failures that allowed her murder to occur had not been addressed or reformed. They emphasized that true justice would mean ensuring no one else faces similar risks. The trial heard that Fenech wanted Caruana Galizia killed because she was about to expose information about him. As one of Malta’s wealthiest individuals, Fenech was the owner of a company that Caruana Galizia had written about months before her death. He denied the allegations and pointed the blame at Keith Schembri, a former close associate of Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, who was also a target of her investigations. Schembri has denied any involvement in the murder, and police confirmed he was never a suspect. Muscat, who was not linked to the murder, resigned in 2020 amid the political fallout from the assassination. Caruana Galizia gained international recognition for her work on corruption and organized crime, particularly for her involvement in the 2016 Panama Papers investigation. That probe revealed offshore financial structures and led to allegations of corruption against high-ranking Maltese officials. Her legacy continues to influence discussions about transparency and accountability in Malta.