Malta urges calm after acquittal in Daphne Caruana Galizia murder case

Valletta, Malta. Malta’s government has appealed for calm after businessman Yorgen Fenech was acquitted of charges of complicity in the 2017 murder of investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.

The verdict, delivered late on Wednesday, angered Caruana Galizia’s family and drew criticism from press freedom group Reporters Without Borders.

Government appeal

Prime Minister Robert Abela, who returned to power in May, did not comment directly on the verdict. However, the government said it had taken note of the trial outcome and urged restraint.

“At this sensitive moment, the government appeals for prudence in public comments that could do more harm than good,” it said in a statement issued late on Wednesday.

Jury verdict

Fenech, heir to a property empire that includes hotels and casinos, was acquitted by an 8-1 jury vote on charges of complicity in murder and the lesser charge of criminal association to commit murder.

Prosecutors cannot appeal the verdict except in exceptional circumstances involving points of law.

During the trial, which lasted just under two months, prosecutors alleged that Fenech wanted Caruana Galizia killed because she was about to reveal information about him.

Reaction from family and press group

Reporters Without Borders said it was “beyond outraged” by the acquittal.

Caruana Galizia’s son Matthew wrote on Facebook: “Terrible decision by the jurors that our country may never recover from. They had a great responsibility to deliver justice. And washed their hands of it.”

2017 killing

Caruana Galizia, 53, was killed in a car bomb attack outside her home in October 2017. Her murder triggered a political crisis in Malta and brought international scrutiny of the country’s police and judiciary.

Three men have been convicted of carrying out the killing, while two others were convicted of supplying the bomb in earlier trials. They are serving lengthy prison sentences.