The businessman accused of ordering the murder of Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia goes on trial on Wednesday, more than nine years after she was killed in a car bomb attack that shocked Europe.
Yorgen Fenech, the heir to a property empire worth hundreds of millions, is one of seven men prosecutors say were involved in the killing, and the last to face trial.
He faces two charges: being an accomplice in the intentional killing of Caruana Galizia, and associating with someone or multiple people in Malta with the aim of committing a crime there. He denies both charges.
The attorney general has called for a life sentence for the murder charge and between 20 and 30 years for the criminal association charge.
A jury was sworn in on Wednesday morning at the courts of justice in Malta’s capital, Valletta.
Of the other six men already prosecuted in connection with the murder, five were convicted and one was granted a pardon in exchange for testimony.
Caruana Galizia died in 2017, shortly after a general election in Malta that was dominated by revelations from her investigations. A magazine publisher, newspaper columnist, and blogger, she was one of the most well-known media figures in the country. Her reporting on top government and business figures made her a repeated target of attacks by politicians and their supporters.
A public inquiry, requested by her family, later concluded that the state had allowed “an atmosphere of impunity” to spread from the highest levels of government to regulators and the police, leading to a breakdown in the rule of law and creating a “favourable climate” for her murder.
Caruana Galizia’s car swerved off the road into a field shortly before 3pm on 17 October 2017, as she was driving away from her home in the village of Bidnija.
A powerful bomb inside a children’s shoebox had been placed under the driver’s seat. The bombers, who prosecutors say were paid €150,000 (£130,000) to carry out the attack, had broken into the car the night before after weeks of watching her movements and planning the attack.
Her son Matthew Caruana Galizia, who had been with her at home, was the first to arrive at the scene, finding her remains in the burning wreckage of the car. She was 53.
Three men accused of planting the bomb were arrested soon afterwards in a televised raid on a warehouse at the docks in Marsa, across the harbour from the capital. Brothers George and Alfred Degiorgio, and their friend Vincent Muscat were taken into custody.
The investigation then seemed to stall. Reporting by Reuters and the Times of Malta eventually revealed that Muscat and a taxi driver who claimed to have been the middleman had offered to testify. The driver, Melvin Theuma, who is expected to give evidence at Fenech’s trial, claims it was the businessman who ordered and paid for the killing.
Theuma was arrested on 14 November 2019, holding an ice-cream box containing USB drives with copies of what he says are secretly recorded conversations with Fenech, which the prosecution is relying on. Fenech’s team have asked for the original recordings and claim Theuma’s testimony contains “half truths” and “blatant lies.”
On the night of Theuma’s arrest, his lawyers, determined to preserve the evidence, sent the material to The Hague, where it was kept at Europol’s offices for safekeeping.
The then prime minister, Joseph Muscat, responded by announcing on 19 November that Theuma, whom he did not name at the time, had been offered a presidential pardon and immunity from prosecution in exchange for information about the killing.
In the early hours of 20 November 2019, Fenech boarded his yacht,Gio set sail. The yacht had been docked at Portomaso Marina, a luxury development with waterfront apartments and restaurants, overlooked by a 23-story tower. It’s owned by Fenech’s family company, Tumas Group.
The Maltese military intercepted the yacht and forced it back to the harbor, where Fenech was arrested. As more details of the case came to light, Joseph Muscat’s government was thrown into a political and constitutional crisis. Pressure on him to resign grew, and he stepped down in December 2019.
In the months and years that followed, Fenech remained in custody while the cases against his co-accused moved forward.
Vincent Muscat received a reduced sentence of 15 years and a presidential pardon after pleading guilty to all charges, including willful homicide, and testifying against the Degiorgio brothers. They initially denied the charges, which also included willful homicide, but changed their pleas to guilty on the first day of their trial in October 2022. A plea bargain reduced their sentences from life to 40 years.
Two men accused of supplying the bomb, Robert Agius and Jamie Vella, were sentenced to life in June 2025. They are not eligible for parole or any other form of early release.
Theuma has been living under a witness protection program since 2019.
Fenech’s legal team has filed repeated challenges, including questioning whether the extensive media coverage of the case has compromised his right to a fair trial. Delays in bringing the case to court meant the state eventually had to grant him bail in February 2025.
He was released under strict conditions after agreeing to what is believed to be Malta’s largest ever bail. He paid an €80,000 deposit and pledged a €120,000 personal guarantee, while his aunt put up her shareholding in Tumas Group—estimated to be worth about €50 million—as security.
Strict reporting conditions before the trial meant the scheduled date could not be disclosed in advance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs about the trial of the businessman accused of ordering the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia written in a clear natural tone
BeginnerLevel Questions
Q Who was Daphne Caruana Galizia
A She was a wellknown Maltese journalist and anticorruption blogger She was killed by a car bomb in 2017
Q Who is the businessman on trial
A His name is Yorgen Fenech He is a prominent Maltese businessman who was the director of a large energy company
Q What is he accused of
A He is accused of being the mastermind the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia
Q Why is this trial a big deal
A Its a huge deal because her murder shocked Europe Many people believe it was an attempt to silence her investigations into highlevel corruption in Malta The trial is seen as a major test of Maltas justice system
Q When did the trial start
A The trial officially began in October 2024
Q How did the police catch the people involved
A Three men who actually planted the bomb were arrested quickly They later confessed and implicated Yorgen Fenech as the person who paid them He was arrested in 2019 after a key suspect agreed to cooperate
Advanced Detailed Questions
Q What was the pardon deal that led to Fenechs arrest
A The middleman in the murder Melvin Theuma was given a presidential pardon in exchange for his testimony He revealed that Yorgen Fenech was the one who ordered the hit and provided the money This evidence led to Fenechs immediate arrest
Q What is the main evidence against Yorgen Fenech
A The prosecutions case relies heavily on the testimony of the middleman and the three bombers They also have financial records that allegedly show payments from Fenech to the hitmen as well as messages and recordings from Theuma
Q What is Yorgen Fenechs defense
