---
title: "Jury Acquits Yorgen Fenech Over Murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia"
date: 2026-09-02T20:00:16.859+00:00
updated: 2026-09-03T17:00:25.371+00:00
topics: ["Politics", "Crime", "Courts", "National"]
canonical: https://filqosor.com/article/2026-09-02/yorgen-fenech-acquitted-daphne-caruana-galizia-murder
source: Fil-Qosor
---

# Jury Acquits Yorgen Fenech Over Murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia

## In brief

- A nine-member jury has acquitted Yorgen Fenech of all charges relating to the murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.
- Jurors returned an 8-1 not guilty verdict on charges of complicity in murder and criminal association.
- The Caruana Galizia family issued a statement reiterating the links between Fenech and senior government figures that Daphne had investigated.

Earlier, Fil-Qosor reported on how [jurors retired to deliberate](/article/2026-09-02/jurors-retire-to-deliberate-in-yorgen-fenech-murder-trial) after Judge Edwina Grima concluded her address. A nine-member jury has now acquitted businessman Yorgen Fenech of complicity in the 2017 car-bomb assassination of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, as well as of criminal association to commit murder.

The verdict was delivered on Wednesday, bringing to a close one of the most high-profile trials in Maltese history. The jury reached an 8-1 majority decision in favour of acquittal on both counts.

Fenech had faced a potential life sentence if convicted on the charges of commissioning and facilitating the car-bomb murder.

Following the delivery of the verdict, the family of Daphne Caruana Galizia released a formal public statement.

In their statement, the family stressed that before she was killed, Caruana Galizia was investigating illicit financial connections involving Fenech, former energy minister Konrad Mizzi, and the former chief of staff to the Prime Minister.

The acquittal concludes extensive judicial proceedings that followed Fenech's initial arrest in November 2019.

Opposition leader Alex Borg has organised a silent demonstration outside the Office of the Prime Minister at the Auberge de Castille in Valletta, framing the acquittal as a failure of state accountability under the Labour administration.

Civil society organisation Repubblika and the family of Daphne Caruana Galizia reiterated that the verdict must not close the chapter on institutional shortcomings. The family emphasised that those who enabled, facilitated, or protected the perpetrators have yet to face full accountability, while broader commentary across independent outlets has intensified scrutiny on public officials, including calls for Attorney General Victoria Buttigieg to resign.

Following the jury's verdict in the trial regarding the assassination of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, the government issued a formal statement emphasising that constitutional and judicial institutions must be allowed to function without interference.

The official statement reaffirmed the administration's commitment to ensuring that justice is carried out by established state institutions, stressing that due process and judicial independence remain central to the country's legal system.

Moments after walking free from the law courts following his acquittal, businessman Yorgen Fenech briefly addressed the press, stating that he had already said everything he needed to say during legal proceedings and would add nothing further.

Opposition Leader Alex Borg reacted forcefully to the verdict, stating that the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia was planned inside Castille and reflecting what he described as widespread public disbelief at the outcome.

The Institute of Maltese Journalists (IGM) expressed deep disappointment with the outcome while noting that the verdict must be formally respected, adding that the conclusion of the trial does not close the case and urging police investigators to pursue all remaining leads.

## The Spin Room

**Medium media divide.** Independent outlets focused on courtroom reactions, international media coverage, and calls for ongoing investigations, while political reactions centred on the Opposition Leader's criticism.

- **Newsbook:** Emphasised Fenech's brief comments to reporters immediately after walking out of the courthouse.
- **The Maltese Herald:** Focused prominently on the political reaction from Opposition Leader Alex Borg and defended its past investigative reporting.
- **Lovin Malta:** Highlighted the response from the Institute of Maltese Journalists, local scenes in Valletta, and widespread international coverage of the verdict.

## Updates

- **2026-09-02:** Updated with the government's official reaction reiterating its commitment to the rule of law and the judicial process.
- **2026-09-03:** Updated with additional reactions to Yorgen Fenech's acquittal, including Judge Edwina Grima's order forwarding trial evidence to police to investigate other potential suspects, statements from Daphne Caruana Galizia's family, and responses from international press freedom organisations.
- **2026-09-03:** Updated with additional coverage confirming Yorgen Fenech's acquittal by criminal court jury.

## Sources (50, 8 outlets)

- [The Malta Independent](https://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2026-09-02/local-news/An-acquittal-does-not-erase-the-questions-that-remain-Repubblika-6736292586)
- [Newsbook](https://newsbook.com.mt/en/government-takes-note-of-fenech-acquittal-urges-prudence/)
- [Lovin Malta](https://lovinmalta.com/court/8-1-verdict-yorgen-fenech-found-not-guilty-on-both-daphne-caruana-galizia-murder-charges/)
- [The Shift News](https://theshiftnews.com/2026/09/01/judge-expected-to-wrap-up-trial-tomorrow/)
- [Newsbook](https://newsbook.com.mt/en/corinne-vella-alleges-fenech-defence-paid-witnesses-to-testify-in-his-favour/)
- [Times of Malta](https://timesofmalta.com/article/government-says-committed-justice-served-institutions.1133582)
- [MaltaToday](https://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/144128/daphne_caruana_galizia_was_denied_justice_murdered_journalists_family_says)
- [The Malta Independent](https://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2026-09-02/local-news/Government-says-institutions-must-be-allowed-to-carry-out-their-work-following-Fenech-verdict-6736292590)
- [The Shift News](https://theshiftnews.com/2026/09/02/daphne-was-right/)
- [Times of Malta](https://timesofmalta.com/article/repubblika-an-acquittal-erase-questions-remain.1133579)
- [The Malta Independent](https://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2026-09-02/local-news/Assassin-trash-Fenech-leaves-court-after-murder-acquittal-6736292592)
- [Lovin Malta](https://lovinmalta.com/court/in-photos-scenes-across-valletta-as-yorgen-fenech-trial-comes-to-an-end/)
- [Times of Malta](https://timesofmalta.com/article/pn-calls-silent-demo-valletta-evening.1133581)
- [The Malta Independent](https://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2026-09-02/local-news/We-want-a-free-country-a-country-that-is-not-afraid-PN-leader-says-after-Fenech-verdict-6736292588)
- [ONE News](https://one.com.mt/il-gvern-kommess-li-jara-li-l-gustizzja-titwettaq-mill-istituzzjonijiet/)
- [ONE News](https://one.com.mt/dirett-il-verdett-tal-gurati-dwar-l-akkuzi-fil-konfront-ta-yorgen-fenech/)
- [The Maltese Herald](https://themalteseherald.com/2026/09/03/opposition-leader-alex-borg-breaks-his-silence-daphnes-murder-was-planned-in-castille/)
- [Newsbook](https://newsbook.com.mt/en/fenech-acquittal-is-a-failure-of-the-state-pen-malta-says/)
- [The Malta Independent](https://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2026-09-03/local-news/Malta-must-now-confront-what-the-trial-exposed-Repubblika-says-6736292601)
- [Newsbook](https://newsbook.com.mt/en/fenech-acquittal-leaves-daphne-murder-mastermind-unidentified-rsf-says/)
- [The Shift News](https://theshiftnews.com/2026/09/02/breaking-yorgen-fenech-not-guilty/)
- [ONE News](https://one.com.mt/diversi-reazzjonijiet-ghall-verdett-fil-guri/)
- [Times of Malta](https://timesofmalta.com/article/beyond-outraged-press-freedom-group-slams-yorgen-fenech-trial-verdict.1133583)
- [Newsbook](https://newsbook.com.mt/en/alex-borg-calls-protest-after-fenech-acquittal-accuses-government-of-failing-malta/)
- [Times of Malta](https://timesofmalta.com/article/justice-denied-daphne-family-says-yorgen-fenech-acquitted-murder.1133578)
- [Newsbook](https://newsbook.com.mt/en/no-one-should-be-too-powerful-to-be-investigated-repubblika-after-fenech-acquittal/)
- [MaltaToday](https://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/144129/borg_says_daphne_caruana_galizia_assassination_case_not_closed_after_fenech_acquittal)
- [Lovin Malta](https://lovinmalta.com/news/watch-verdict-is-clear-fenech-lawyer-says-jury-did-not-believe-states-case/)
- [The Maltese Herald](https://themalteseherald.com/2026/09/03/son-of-slain-journalist-describes-verdict-as-pure-evil/)
- [Lovin Malta](https://lovinmalta.com/court/justice-denied-daphne-caruana-galizias-family-speak-out-following-not-guilty-verdict/)
- [Times of Malta](https://timesofmalta.com/article/crowd-gathers-valletta-protest-yorgen-fenech-acquittal.1133584)
- [Lovin Malta](https://lovinmalta.com/international/yorgen-fenechs-not-guilty-verdict-makes-international-headlines/)
- [Newsbook](https://newsbook.com.mt/en/judge-orders-police-to-probe-whether-others-should-face-charges-after-fenech-trial/)
- [MaltaToday](https://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/144132/government_says_institutions_must_be_allowed_to_carry_out_their_work_after_daphne_caruana_galizia_verdict)
- [The Malta Independent](https://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2026-09-02/local-news/Fenech-verdict-deeply-painful-and-disappointing-Occupy-Justice-6736292585)
- [Newsbook](https://newsbook.com.mt/en/a-national-reckoning-needed-after-fenech-acquittal-repubblika-says/)
- [The Maltese Herald](https://themalteseherald.com/2026/09/02/yorgen-fenech-not-guilty-of-conspiring-and-facilitating-the-murder-of-daphne-caruana-galizia/)
- [The Maltese Herald](https://themalteseherald.com/2026/09/03/we-were-right-to-publish-and-expose-yorgen-fenech-nothing-will-be-deleted/)
- [The Maltese Herald](https://themalteseherald.com/2026/09/02/justice-denied/)
- [Times of Malta](https://timesofmalta.com/article/assassin-trash-yorgen-fenech-heckled-leaves-court-free-man.1133580)
- [The Malta Independent](https://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2026-09-02/local-news/PN-stages-silent-protest-after-Fenech-acquittal-Borg-says-government-has-failed-6736292591)
- [MaltaToday](https://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/court_and_police/144112/yorgen_fenech_trial_enters_final_stretch_as_judge_continues_address_to_jurors_4)
- [Newsbook](https://newsbook.com.mt/en/i-said-what-i-had-to-say-in-court-fenech-breaks-silence-as-he-walks-free/)
- [Newsbook](https://newsbook.com.mt/en/not-guilty-yorgen-fenech-cleared-of-complicity-in-daphne-caruana-galizia-killing/)
- [Newsbook](https://newsbook.com.mt/en/daphne-family-institutional-failures-that-enabled-her-murder-remain-unaddressed/)
- [Lovin Malta](https://lovinmalta.com/news/the-verdict-does-not-close-the-case-igm-calls-on-police-to-pursue-leads-following-yorgen-fenech-acquittal/)
- [The Maltese Herald](https://themalteseherald.com/2026/09/03/he-got-away-with-murder/)
- [ONE News](https://one.com.mt/il-gurati-ma-jsibux-lil-yorgen-fenech-hati-li-kien-komplici-u-assocja-ruhu-mal-qtil-ta-daphne-caruana-galizia/)
- [ONE News](https://one.com.mt/il-disa-gurati-jaslu-ghall-verdett-fil-guri-ta-yorgen-fenech/)
- [The Malta Independent](https://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2026-09-02/local-news/Verdict-does-not-close-case-IGM-says-6736292589)

## More stories

- [Kenneth Camilleri Denies Murder Plot Claims Raised in Daphne Inquiry Case](https://filqosor.com/article/2026-08-26/kenneth-camilleri-denies-murder-plot-claims-daphne-inquiry-case) (2026-08-26)
- [Fenech Alleges Police Frame-Up During Murder Trial Cross-Examination](https://filqosor.com/article/2026-08-25/fenech-alleges-police-frame-up-murder-trial-cross-examination) (2026-08-25)
- [Yorgen Fenech Testifies Keith Schembri Leaked Secret Europol Data](https://filqosor.com/article/2026-08-24/yorgen-fenech-testifies-keith-schembri-leaked-secret-europol-data) (2026-08-24)

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