A Maltese businessman has been cleared of involvement in the murder of investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, ending the longest-running murder trial in Maltese history and leaving her family still searching for answers.
Key facts
- A jury in Valletta found the businessman not guilty of ordering the journalist's murder.
- The verdict was delivered at 7.30pm on Wednesday in hall 22 of the courts of justice.
- It marks the conclusion of the longest-running murder trial in Maltese history.
- The trial exposed challenges faced by investigators searching for those behind her killing.
- Caruana Galizia's family remains without full answers, according to the Guardian.
The conclusion of the longest-running murder trial in Maltese history has left the country in turmoil and a grieving family still searching for answers, according to the Guardian. At 7.30pm on Wednesday, gasps and cheers echoed around hall 22 of the courts of justice in Valletta, as a jury pronounced a businessman accused of ordering the murder of investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia not guilty.
The businessman had been accused of involvement in the journalist’s death but was cleared by the jury. The Guardian reports that his trial revealed the significant challenges faced by those leading the search for her killers.
The case has been marked by references to sabotage, leaks and political ties, all of which formed part of the wider story surrounding the pursuit of justice in the killing, according to the Guardian’s account of the trial.
Caruana Galizia was an investigative journalist whose work made her a prominent figure in Malta. The trial’s outcome has reverberated across the country, with the courtroom scene reflecting the intense public interest in the proceedings.
Despite the verdict, the Guardian notes that the journalist’s family continues to search for answers, underscoring that the conclusion of this trial has not fully resolved the questions surrounding her death.
The reaction inside the Valletta courtroom, where gasps and cheers greeted the not guilty pronouncement, illustrates the divisive and emotional nature of a case that has gripped Malta since the journalist’s murder.
Why it matters
The murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia became an international symbol of the dangers faced by investigative journalists and raised serious questions about the rule of law in Malta. The outcome of this trial, and the family's continued search for answers, keeps the spotlight on accountability and press freedom.
Frequently asked questions
What was the verdict in the Daphne Caruana Galizia murder trial?
A jury in Valletta found the accused businessman not guilty of ordering the murder of the investigative journalist, according to the Guardian.
When was the verdict delivered?
The jury pronounced the verdict at 7.30pm on Wednesday in hall 22 of the courts of justice in Valletta.
Does the verdict resolve the case for the family?
No. The Guardian reports that the journalist's family is still searching for answers following the conclusion of the trial.