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A jury in Malta has found wealthy property developer Yorgen Fenech not guilty of complicity in the murder of investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, delivering a blow to press freedom advocates.
In a verdict that has sent shockwaves through the European journalistic community and the political landscape of Malta, a jury has found Yorgen Fenech, one of the wealthiest individuals in the country, not guilty of his alleged involvement in the murder of anti-corruption journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.
The decision, reached by a jury consisting of six women and three men, comes after a high-stakes trial that many believed would serve as a definitive statement on the protection of press freedom in Europe. The jury delivered a decisive blow to the prosecution's case, voting to dismiss both counts of complicity in voluntary homicide and association with the intention of committing a crime by an eight-to-one majority.
The announcement in court was met with a mixture of gasps and cheers, reflecting the deep polarization surrounding the case. For the family of Caruana Galizia and the countless campaigners who viewed this trial as a landmark struggle against impunity, the acquittal is a devastating setback. Yorgen Fenech, an influential businessman and property developer whose family interests include a share in a power station and the ownership of two Hilton hotels, was at the center of the prosecution's narrative.
The state alleged that Fenech had utilized his vast wealth and political connections to orchestrate the assassination of the journalist, who had spent years exposing corruption and financial irregularities within the Maltese government. Prosecutors claimed that Fenech had paid 150,000 euros through a middleman, Melvin Theuma, to ensure the journalist's death.
During the closing arguments, prosecutor Anthony Vella argued that Fenech believed he could 'buy justice' because of his extensive network of contacts among the heads of public entities and high-ranking politicians. The prosecution had sought a life sentence for Fenech, arguing that the murder was a calculated attempt to silence a woman who posed a significant threat to his business interests and political alliances.
In contrast, the defense strategy focused on shifting the blame upward to higher levels of government. Fenech and his legal team argued that the true architect of the crime was Keith Schembri, the former chief of staff to the then-prime minister Joseph Muscat.
Defense lawyer Charles Mercieca famously asserted during his summation that 'all roads lead to Keith, and all bridges to Keith were burned,' suggesting that the police investigation had been intentionally steered away from the former chief of staff. In his own testimony, Fenech denied any role in ordering the murder, claiming instead that he had acted merely as a messenger between Schembri and Theuma.
He further alleged that he had been blackmailed by a taxi driver, distancing himself from the decision-making process of the hit. While Keith Schembri provided evidence during the trial, he steadfastly denied any involvement in the murder or the leaking of sensitive police information to Fenech. The trial shed a harsh light on the systemic issues plaguing Malta's postwar political history.
Daphne Caruana Galizia's reporting had triggered the most significant political scandal in the nation's modern era, leading to the forced resignation of Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, two of his ministers, and his chief of staff. Her work became a rallying cry for anti-corruption activists both locally and internationally, highlighting the dangers faced by journalists who dare to investigate the intersection of business and political power.
The proceedings revealed a troubling pattern of potential sabotage and interference in the police investigation, with accusations that sensitive information was leaked to the defendant to help him evade capture. This acquittal not only leaves a void in the pursuit of justice for the victim's family but also raises profound questions about the effectiveness of the legal system in holding powerful figures accountable when they possess deep ties to the state apparatus
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