Two men jailed for life for supplying bomb that killed Maltese anti-corruption journalist
The journalist had written extensively about suspected corruption in political and business circles in Malta and her murder shocked Europe and triggered angry protests in Malta.
There were also large protests in Malta against the then-prime minister, Joseph Muscat, who resigned as prime minister in January 2020 following pressure from citizens for the truth about the bomb that killed Caruana Galizia.
Caruana Galizia's sister, Corinne Vella, said the family lawyers had asked 'for the court to consider the devastating impact of Daphne's brutal murder both on our family and on society'.
Following a six-week jury trial, Robert Agius, 41, and Jamie Vella, 42, were found guilty Thursday of complicity in the assassination by supplying the military-grade explosive used in the deadly car bombing near the reporter's home.
'Her assassination created a sense in society that the people behind her murder were sure of their impunity and that the institutions that are duty-bound to protect her and society had failed,' Vella said on behalf of her family.
'We hope that today's sentences will be a step towards a safer world for journalists by signalling to potential killers that there are heavy penalties to pay when a journalist is murdered', she said.
The three hitmen who carried out the murder – brothers George and Alfred Degiorgio together with Vince Muscat – are already in jail after pleading guilty in separate proceedings.
Advertisement
Businessman Yorgen Fenech, who is accused of masterminding the murder, is still awaiting trial.
Public Inquiry
Caruana Galizia was an investigative reporter who had written about cronyism and sleaze within Malta's political and business elite.
Her murder, at age 53, drew international outrage.
A public inquiry published in 2021 found no evidence of state involvement in the killing, but found the government created a 'climate of impunity' for those who wanted to silence Caruana Galizia.
Hitman Vince Muscat was the prosecution's key witness in the trial against Agius and Vella, although more than 150 people testified before the jury, including relatives of Caruana Galizia, members of the FBI and a former government minister.
Muscat had also given evidence against the Degiorgio brothers, in return for a reduced sentence of 15 years for his role in the killing.
The Degiorgio brothers, who pleaded guilty on the first day of their 2022 trial, were each sentenced to 40 years.
Fenech, who had close ties with Joseph Muscat's government, was arrested in November 2019 aboard his yacht as he tried to sail out of Malta. He was granted bail in January.
Melvin Theuma, the middleman in the murder, received a presidential pardon in 2019 and is now a state witness.
-
© AFP 2025
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
19 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Trump's Washington crime crackdown has wokies howling while law-abiding approve – so isn't it time we tried it here?
The UK government could do worse than take a leaf out of Trump's playbook this week... tough action on crime would be another no-brainer vote-winner HARRY COLE Trump's Washington crime crackdown has wokies howling while law-abiding approve – so isn't it time we tried it here? WHEN I recently landed Stateside, even my most right-on friends took me aside with hushed tones to warn which bits of town are strictly out of bounds. As a new arrival in Washington DC, I was immediately told to stay in my lane, never go to certain postcodes and never take the metro after sunset. 7 The FBI have led the multi-agency crackdown to clean up the streets of Washington DC Credit: Getty 7 The streets of DC have been swamped with federal agents, national guards and armoured vehicles Credit: The Mega Agency Advertisement 7 US President Donald Trump ordered the clean up after a White House staffer was attacked Credit: Getty Quite why was never exactly spelt out, but after a teenage White House staffer was beaten up at 3am just a few streets from where I now live, it went without saying. Edward Coristine, 19, better known by his online nickname 'Big Balls', hit global headlines after being knocked seven shades of Sunday by two fellow teens in an attempted carjacking earlier this month. As a minor celebrity in the Trump administration, after he worked with Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, Big Balls' beating became far more than just another crime statistic in one of the most dangerous cities on the planet. Advertisement Donald Trump used the shocking image of the bloodied lad to call time on rampant violence at the iconic heart of America. The President declared this week: 'I'm announcing a historic action to rescue our nation's capital from crime, bloodshed, bedlam and squalor, and worse. Drug-addled crazy 'Our capital city has been overtaken by violent gangs and bloodthirsty criminals — roving mobs of wild youth, drugged-out maniacs, and homeless people.' He later followed up with a customary social media rant, writing: 'Crime, Savagery, Filth, and Scum will DISAPPEAR. I will MAKE OUR CAPITAL GREAT AGAIN!' Advertisement Since then, the streets of DC have been swamped with federal agents, national guards and vehicles that would not look out of place on an actual battlefield. The internet is awash with videos of raids, checkpoints and patrols that have driven the lefties, who mostly make up this city, round the bend. Rough-sleeping encampments that have sprung up in cities across the west have been visibly dismantled, despite howls from roving protesters. Five US cities where Donald Trump could next launch militarized crime crackdown as DC launch exposes Democrat failures So far, so good, many normal and non-deranged residents have said. But you know what really takes the biscuit? Those very same right-on types that have their rules about where never to stroll are the very same ones saying the President has overstepped the mark, overreacted, is playing a political game or — among the most hysterical — sliding into all-out fascism. Advertisement Better-off folk who live in nice bits of the city wax lyrical about how great things are, and how it's all a big stunt. Yet they are the same ones who shade out parts of the map, with warning signs, to new arrivals. Because they personally may not have been victims of crime, everything is clearly tickety-boo. Everyone knows someone who has witnessed something shocking, or had their own car broken into or turned a blind eye to a drug-addled crazy on their walk to work Harry Cole But drill down a little and everyone has a different story to tell. Everyone knows someone who has witnessed something shocking, or had their own car broken into or turned a blind eye to a drug-addled crazy on their walk to work. Trump's political enemies have walked straight into another one of his traps, as they defend the rights of violent criminals and gang-fuelled youths to roam and rampage on the streets at will. Advertisement 7 Law enforcement agencies are following Trump's instructions to take tough action Credit: Getty 7 The President's critics claim the approach is too heavy-handed and targets the vulnerable Credit: Reuters With him seizing control of the local police structures and deploying federal powers, the Democrats warn that the President's actions in the capital are a mere overture for similar action in crime-ridden Los Angeles, Chicago and New York. But most law-abiding residents seem either remarkably unfazed by it all, or actively welcome somebody finally getting a grip. While the row rages on American networks over whether crime is actually falling in DC, if murder rates are down, or if the number of shootings and carjackings have in fact slumped since the pandemic, most normal people I have met are not upset to see something finally being done. Advertisement The same arguments are being had in London and Washington. Yet it's surely time to do something about it rather than bury our heads in the sand Harry Cole Which got me thinking. If an American friend was landing in Britain, I would give them the exact- same briefing — which bits of town to avoid, where never to get your phone out and why it's best not to talk to nutters on buses. The same arguments are being had in London and Washington. Yet it's surely time to do something about it rather than bury our heads in the sand. People can see a marked decline in living standards due to muggings, snatchings, shoplifting, graffiti and all the rest. All the while, coppers are either dancing in the street, for clout on TikTok, or seemingly kicking in the doors of all the wrong people. Shovel a shelf of Greggs pastries into a bin bag in broad daylight and walk out, or tweet something daft and repent in haste . . . guess who is going to prison? Advertisement 7 Many in the UK would like to see Donald Trump's strong messaging and action Credit: Publicly, ministers and well-off commentators point to fig-leaf statistics that overall crime is falling, while normal people use just their eyes and ears to tell a different story. Take the princeling of woke, podcaster Lewis Goodall, who frothed this week: 'London is being set up as this dystopian hellhole where you can barely walk out of your door . . . it's a Trump import!' Accusing anyone of calling out the noticeable rise in crime as a 'far-right' goon, he went on: 'London lives rent-free in their heads as it's living proof of how completely wrong they are — they have to lie about it!' Yet these virtue-signalling types, who tell Brits they've never had it so good, are falling into the exact-same traps as Trump's critics. Advertisement While no one can accuse Sir Keir Starmer of having Donald Trump's flair, turn of phrase or gumption, the UK government could do worse than take a leaf out of the President's playbook this week The argument about whether sending in the heavies is mere theatrics, or will have a lasting effect, is still playing out here. But most fair-minded people, I suspect, would rather this than simply turning a blind eye to reality. While no one can accuse Sir Keir Starmer of having Donald Trump's flair, turn of phrase or gumption, the UK government could do worse than take a leaf out of the President's playbook this week. Like tough action on the US border has seen illegal immigration into the United States from Mexico grind to a halt, tough action on crime would be another no-brainer vote-winner. Just ignore the hypocrites. 7 Homelessness and poverty is the major problem in Washington DC Credit: James Breeden for The Sun Advertisement
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- The Irish Sun
Gunman opens fire outside mosque in Sweden as police urgently hunt on the run shooter and warn people to stay away
The horror incident took place in the Swedish city of Orebro GUN HORROR Gunman opens fire outside mosque in Sweden as police urgently hunt on the run shooter and warn people to stay away TWO people have been injured following a shooting near a mosque in Sweden, police have said. The victims were rushed to hospital after being shot as they were leaving Friday prayers, according to reports. 3 Cops are looking for the suspected perpetrator Credit: AFP 3 Police on scene outside a mosque after a shooting in Orebro Credit: AP 3 Emergency services are working at the scene in large numbers Credit: AFP The horror incident took place in the Swedish city of Orebro. Cops are looking for the suspected perpetrator, who is yet to be apprehended. No arrests have yet been made, according to reports. Emergency services are working at the scene in large numbers, and members of the public are urged to stay clear of the area. The extent of the victims' injuries is unclear at the present time. It is unknown whether the gunman was targeting them mosque or specific individuals. More to follow... For the latest news on this story, keep checking back at The U.S. Sun, your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, sports news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures, and must-see videos. Like us on Facebook at TheSunUS and follow us on X at @TheUSSun
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- The Irish Sun
Ex-KGB officer gives chilling warning ahead of Trump-Putin showdown – and claims ‘manipulative' Vlad has ‘already won'
A FORMER spy who trained at the same KGB school as Vladimir Putin has warned of the Kremlin strongman's powers of manipulation - and claimed the despot has already 'won' today's summit with Trump. Sergey Jirnov's chilling warning comes just hours before the Russian dictator's crunch face-off with Donald Trump in Alaska today. 13 Former spy Sergey Jirnov warns Putin has already won the Alaska summit, calling it a trap Credit: AFP 13 Jirnov worked for the KGB for seven years - joining the same year as Putin Credit: East2West Advertisement 13 Jirnov's ID from his time in the KGB Credit: East2West 13 Jirnov stated Putin is manipulative and will exploit Trump's emotional approach to their relationship Credit: East2West 13 Jirnov, who served seven years in Russia's secret service between 1984 and 1991, said the Alaska summit — billed as a turning point in the Ukraine war — is in reality a trap. Advertisement He told The Sun: 'Even if he gets nothing at all, he has already won and Trump has already lost everything. 'Putin is a war criminal wanted by the International Criminal Court. 'The West wanted to isolate him — and Trump is bringing him out of isolation and talking to him as an equal.' Read more on the Summit CRUNCH SUMMIT Kremlin confirms details of Putin-Trump talks that may decide Ukraine's fate Jirnov didn't hold back on his assessment of the Kremlin chief's psychological advantage. Advertisement He explained: 'He knows how to recruit people, he knows how to manipulate them. 'Putin is intelligent and manipulative, he will manipulate Trump, he will tell him everything Trump wants to hear. "And then he'll promise him things, eventually, but in reality this relationship is not a rational one on Trump's part. It's an emotional relationship. The ex-KGB man — who first met Putin in 1980 when the young intelligence officer interrogated him during the Moscow Olympics — believes Europe must 'crush' the Russian leader 'like a bug'. He insists a no-deal outcome would be a win for Kyiv, because 'Trump can give everything to Putin… lift sanctions, push economic projects, and normalise Putin's Russia. That would be a disaster.' Advertisement Trump's 'bombshell offer to Putin for peace' revealed…but he warns of 'severe consequences' if despot keeps up onslaught The last face-to-face meet DONALD Trump and Vladimir Putin last met in person at the G20 summit in Osaka, Japan, on June 28, 2019. It was during Trump's first term as the president of America. The meeting is widely remembered for a moment where Trump, with a smile, publicly warned the Russian leader: "Don't meddle in the election, please." Their private discussions reportedly touched upon arms control, trade, and regional security issues Alaska showdown Trump and Putin are set to meet one-on-one at Elmendorf-Richardson base near Anchorage at 11.30am local time (8.30pm UK) today — under extraordinary security. Putin, who rarely travels abroad since launching his full-scale invasion, will arrive with his feared 'Musketeers' bodyguards, carrying everything from armour-piercing pistols to the infamous nuclear briefcase — and even a 'poo suitcase' to stop any analysis of his health. The Cold War-era base has been locked down by US and Russian forces, with over 32,000 troops, air defences, and electronic jamming systems in place. The pair will thrash out 'sensitive matters' behind closed doors before a joint press conference. Trump has insisted Putin 'is not going to mess around with me' and claimed the Russian leader 'wants a deal'. Advertisement 13 The pair is set to meet up today at 11.30am local time Credit: AFP 13 An F-22 Raptor assigned to the 525th Fighter Squadron takes off at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska 13 Trump previously said his high-stakes meeting with Vladimir Putin will be like 'chess' Speaking in the Oval Office, he said: 'If I weren't president, he would take over all of Ukraine… but I am president and he's not going to mess around with me.' While playing down the chances of an immediate ceasefire, Trump hinted at a more 'important' second round of talks 'very quickly' — this time with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and 'maybe some European leaders' in the room. Advertisement Putin has tried to sweeten the mood, praising Trump's 'sincere efforts' for peace, even as Zelensky warns he is 'bluffing'. Trump has vowed "very severe consequences" if this turns out to be the case. 13 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, right, is greeted by British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, left, on arrival for bilateral discussions at 10 Downing Street on Thursday Credit: Alamy 13 An explosion lights up the Kyiv sky after a Russian attack Credit: Reuters 13 Trump also said he won't make a deal without Zelensky Credit: AFP Advertisement 13 Zelensky, fresh from meetings with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and UK PM Sir Keir Starmer, has warned that any talks without Ukraine risk disaster. Behind the scenes, reports suggest Trump may dangle offers of access to Alaska's natural resources, eased sanctions on Russia's aviation industry, and even a controversial 'West Bank-style' model allowing Moscow to keep control of occupied Ukrainian regions without changing borders. For Jirnov, such concessions would be catastrophic. 'If nothing happens at the Alaska summit, we have won,' he said. Advertisement 'But if Trump gives Putin everything, we have lost everything. 'After that, it will be war against Trump with Putin — because Trump will no longer defend the interests of Europe and Ukraine, but Putin's interests.' Will there be peace in Ukraine? THE prospect of peace in Ukraine remains uncertain as the Russia-Ukraine war continues into its fourth year. While Trump's diplomatic efforts and the planned meeting signal continued U.S. engagement, the gap between Russia's demands and Ukraine's conditions remains wide. Putin's history of stalling and Zelensky's insistence on a full ceasefire and security guarantees suggest that a lasting peace agreement is unlikely in the immediate term without significant concessions from either side. Next week's meeting may produce a framework or memorandum for future talks, as Putin has indicated, but a concrete peace deal appears distant based on current dynamics. Recent US-brokered talks, including direct negotiations in Istanbul on May 16 and June 2, 2025, have yielded no breakthroughs, though agreements on prisoner exchanges signal some dialogue. US President Donald Trump has pushed for a ceasefire, shortening a 50-day deadline for Russia to negotiate or face sanctions, but tensions persist with Russian advances in eastern Ukraine and intensified drone and missile strikes on cities like Kyiv. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has suggested territorial swaps, while Russia shows little willingness to compromise. With ongoing military escalation and divergent American and European approaches, a lasting peace deal appears distant.
