Latest news with #DaphneCaruanaGalizia
DW
4 days ago
- Politics
- DW
Malta: Two convicted in 2017 murder of journalist – DW – 06/06/2025
A Maltese court convicted two men of supplying explosives used to assassinate an investigative journalist. Daphne Caruana Galizia, who reported on government corruption, was killed with a car bomb. A Maltese court pronounced Robert Agius (41) and Jamie Vella (42) guilty of complicity in the October 16, 2017, assassination of investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia late Thursday. The two were convicted of supplying military-grade explosives to killers targeting Caruana Galizia with a car bomb. The 53-year-old journalist wrote extensively about government corruption and crooked business deals. Much of her investigative focus during the time leading up to her targeted killing was trained on the inner circle of then President Joseph Muscat. Her brazen killing shocked Europe and sparked protests on the Mediterranean island. Protesters rallied against Muscat over his perceived efforts to shield friends and allies in a later investigation into the murder. He eventually resigned from office in 2019. Though a 2021 public inquiry found no evidence of direct government involvement in Caruana Galizia's murder, it did attest to a "climate of impunity" within the administration toward those who may have wanted to do her harm. On Friday, the slain journalist's family said the verdict brings them "a step closer to justice." "Yet, eight years after Daphne's brutal assassination, the institutional failures that enabled her murder remain unaddressed and unreformed," the family added. Yorgen Fenech stands accused of putting together the Daphne Caruana Galizia assasination Image: AP Photo/picture alliance What else do we know about the trial into Caruana Galizia's murder? Agius and Vella are expected to be sentenced early next week, with prosecutors seeking life sentences for both men. They are the fifth individuals to be convicted thus far in connection with Caruana Galizia's assassination. Two men, brothers George and Alfred Degiorgio, are serving 40 year sentences for carrying out the murder. Vince Muscat was convicted along with the Degiorgios but given a 15-year reduced sentence and a pardon in another murder case for providing key witness testimony that led to the convictions of Agius and Vella. A sixth man, Maltese businessman Yorgen Fenech — who was among those with close ties to the Muscat government — currently awaits trial on charges that he masterminded the Caruana Galizia hit. Fenech was arrested in November 2019, attempting to flee the country on his yacht. He was granted bail in January 2025. No date has been set for his trial yet. Political crisis in Malta To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Edited by: Rana Taha
CTV News
4 days ago
- Politics
- CTV News
Jury finds 2 men guilty of supplying the bomb used to kill Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia
Flowers and a candle lie in front of a portrait of slain investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia during a vigil outside the law courts in Valletta, Malta, Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2018. (AP Photo/Jonathan Borg, File) VALLETTA, Malta — A Maltese jury found two men guilty of complicity in the murder of Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, after a six-week long trial covering two homicides wrapped up late on Thursday. Jamie Vella and Robert Agius were accused of supplying the bomb that killed her. Both were found guilty of the charges. The journalist was murdered on Oct. 16, 2017, by a car bomb that was detonated while she was driving near her home. Caruana Galizia, 53, had written extensively about suspected corruption in political and business circles in Malta. Her murder shocked Europe and triggered angry protests in Malta. Caruana Galizia's investigative reports had targeted people in then-prime minister Joseph Muscat's inner circle whom she accused of having offshore companies in tax havens disclosed in the Panama Papers leak. She also targeted the opposition. When she was killed, she was facing more than 40 libel suits. The Caruana Galizia family said in a statement that Thursday's verdict brings them a step closer to justice. 'Yet, eight years after Daphne's brutal assassination, the institutional failures that enabled her murder remain unaddressed and unreformed,' the family added. Vella and Robert Agius, together with two other men – George Degiorgio and Adrian Agius – also faced charges related to the separate murder of a lawyer, Carmel Chircop, who was shot and killed in 2015. Vella, Degiorgio and Adrian Agius were found guilty of charges tied to the murder, while Robert Agius was found not guilty. The judge will decide on sentencing at a later date. George Degiorgio and his brother Alfred Degiorgio both pleaded guilty in 2022 to carrying out the murder of Caruana Galizia. They were each sentenced to 40 years in prison. A third man, Vincent Muscat, pleaded guilty in 2021 for his role in the Caruana Galizia murder, and was sentenced to 15 years in prison. He testified in the recent jury trial after being granted a presidential pardon for his role in the Chircop murder on the condition he tell the whole truth. Yorgen Fenech, a prominent Maltese businessman, is currently out of jail on bail awaiting trial on charges of alleged complicity in the Caruana Galizia murder. Kevin Schembri Orland, The Associated Press
Toronto Sun
4 days ago
- Toronto Sun
Jury finds 2 men guilty of supplying bomb used to kill Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia
Published Jun 06, 2025 • 2 minute read Flowers and a candle lie in front of a portrait of slain investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia during a vigil outside the law courts in Valletta, Malta, Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2018. Photo by Jonathan Borg / AP VALLETTA, Malta — A Maltese jury found two men guilty of complicity in the murder of Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, after a six-week long trial covering two homicides wrapped up late on Thursday. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Jamie Vella and Robert Agius were accused of supplying the bomb that killed her. Both were found guilty of the charges. The journalist was murdered on Oct. 16, 2017, by a car bomb that was detonated while she was driving near her home. Caruana Galizia, 53, had written extensively about suspected corruption in political and business circles in Malta. Her murder shocked Europe and triggered angry protests in Malta. Caruana Galizia's investigative reports had targeted people in then-Prime Minister Joseph Muscat's inner circle whom she accused of having offshore companies in tax havens disclosed in the Panama Papers leak. She also targeted the opposition. When she was killed, she was facing more than 40 libel suits. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The Caruana Galizia family said in a statement that Thursday's verdict brings them a step closer to justice. 'Yet, eight years after Daphne's brutal assassination, the institutional failures that enabled her murder remain unaddressed and unreformed,' the family added. Vella and Robert Agius, together with two other men — George Degiorgio and Adrian Agius — also faced charges related to the separate murder of a lawyer, Carmel Chircop, who was shot and killed in 2015. Vella, Degiorgio and Adrian Agius were found guilty of charges tied to the murder, while Robert Agius was found not guilty. The judge will decide on sentencing at a later date. George Degiorgio and his brother Alfred Degiorgio both pleaded guilty in 2022 to carrying out the murder of Caruana Galizia. They were each sentenced to 40 years in prison. A third man, Vincent Muscat, pleaded guilty in 2021 for his role in the Caruana Galizia murder, and was sentenced to 15 years in prison. He testified in the recent jury trial after being granted a presidential pardon for his role in the Chircop murder on the condition he tell the whole truth. Yorgen Fenech, a prominent Maltese businessman, is currently out of jail on bail awaiting trial on charges of alleged complicity in the Caruana Galizia murder. Sunshine Girls Toronto & GTA Sunshine Girls Toronto & GTA Olympics
CBS News
4 days ago
- Politics
- CBS News
Men found guilty of supplying bomb that killed investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia in Malta
Two men have been convicted in Malta of supplying the explosives that killed journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia in the Mediterranean island state in 2017. Following a six-week trial, Robert Agius, 41, and Jamie Vella, 42, were both found guilty late Thursday of complicity in the assassination of the 53-year-old investigative reporter by supplying the military-grade explosive used in the car bombing near her home. They're expected to be sentenced early next week, with prosecutors having asked for them to be given life in prison. The three hitmen who carried out the murder — brothers George and Alfred Degiorgio together with Vince Muscat — have already been convicted. Flowers and a candle lie in front of a portrait of slain investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia during a vigil outside the law courts in Valletta, Malta, Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2018. Jonathan Borg / AP Agius and Vella were arrested four years after the murder, after Muscat agreed to testify against them in return for a reduced sentence in that case, and a pardon for a separate murder. Muscat was also the prosecution's key witness in the latest, in which more than 150 people testified before the jury, including relatives of Caruana Galizia, members of the FBI and a former government minister. The murder of Caruana Galizia, who had written about cronyism and sleaze within Malta's political and business elite, drew international outrage. There were also large protests in Malta against prime minister Joseph Muscat over his perceived efforts to protect friends and allies from the investigation. He announced his resignation in December 2019. A public inquiry published in 2021 found no evidence of state involvement in Caruana Galizia's assassination, but found the government created a "climate of impunity" for those who wanted to silence her. In a statement, the Caruana Galizia family said the latest convictions brought them "a step closer to justice." "Yet, eight years after Daphne's brutal assassination, the institutional failures that enabled her murder remain unaddressed and unreformed," they said. Caruana Galizia, who was called a "one-woman Wikileaks," had reported on allegations of money laundering, bribery and corruption in Malta for 30 years. She relentlessly pursued politicians in her home country on her blog, Running Commentary. "She knew that the powerful people that she was writing about were closing in on her," Galizia's son Paul told 60 Minutes after her death. "They were using every possible means to shut her down. She knew that, and that frightened her deeply." The Degiorgio brothers are serving 40 years each in prison for the murder, while Muscat received a reduced sentence of 15 years. Police and forensic experts inspect the wreckage of a car bomb that killed journalist and blogger Daphne Caruana Galizia close to her home in Bidnija, Malta, on October 16, 2017. STR/AFP via Getty Images Businessman Yorgen Fenech, who had close ties with Joseph Muscat's government, is still awaiting trial on charges that he masterminded the murder. He was arrested in November 2019 aboard his yacht as he tried to sail out of Malta. He was granted bail in January 2025, with no date yet set for his trial.
Toronto Star
4 days ago
- Toronto Star
Jury finds 2 men guilty of supplying the bomb used to kill Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia
VALLETTA, Malta (AP) — A Maltese jury found two men guilty of complicity in the murder of Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, after a six-week long trial covering two homicides wrapped up late on Thursday. Jamie Vella and Robert Agius were accused of supplying the bomb that killed her. Both were found guilty of the charges. More from The Star & partners
