The trial of prominent Maltese businessman Yorgen Fenech, owner of the Hilton Malta hotel and casino chain, has officially commenced in Valletta regarding the 2017 assassination of investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.
According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, the legal proceedings mark a significant development in a case that has drawn international attention. Investigative materials presented in court allege that Fenech paid a total of 150,000 euros to three hired assassins to carry out the murder. Reports indicate that the explosive device was concealed in a children's shoe box and placed under the driver's seat of the journalist's vehicle one day prior to the attack.
The prosecution claims that Fenech orchestrated the assassination by coordinating with the Degiorgio brothers, George and Alfred, through an intermediary, taxi driver Melvin Theuma. Under the alleged agreement, an initial payment of 30,000 euros was made, with the remainder of the sum to be paid upon completion of the act.
Daphne Caruana Galizia was widely recognized for her investigative work exposing corruption within government and high-level business circles. Her murder in 2017 sent shockwaves across Europe, sparking widespread protests and demands for accountability. Although Fenech was arrested seven years ago, legal complexities and procedural delays postponed the start of the trial. There are seven individuals accused in the case; five have already been convicted, and one has received a pardon in exchange for cooperating with the investigation. Fenech is the final defendant to face trial in this high-profile case.
