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Assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia

The Maltese investigative journalist was killed by a car bomb in 2017, leading to convictions, a public inquiry and continuing disputes over who commissioned the attack.

Place
Bidnija, Malta, Malta
Date
16 Oct 2017
Status
UnsolvedNo person has been convicted, and the case remains unresolved.
Sources
4 cited sources

Updated 02 Sep 2026

Overview

Case overview

Caruana Galizia reported on corruption, financial crime and political patronage in Malta. She was driving from her home on 16 October 2017 when a bomb placed in her car detonated. Three men were arrested that December in connection with carrying out the killing. [1]

Vincent Muscat pleaded guilty in 2021, and brothers George and Alfred Degiorgio pleaded guilty in 2022. A public inquiry concluded that the Maltese state had created a climate of impunity and failed to recognize the risk to Caruana Galizia. On 2 September 2026, a jury acquitted businessman Yorgen Fenech of complicity in the murder; prosecutors said the verdict could be appealed. [2]

Flowers and tributes at the memorial near Daphne Caruana Galizia's assassination site in Malta
Flowers and tributes at the memorial near Daphne Caruana Galizia's assassination site in MaltaWilliam John Gauthier · CC BY-SA 2.0 · View original ↗
Detailed chronology

Key events

8 sourced milestones

Major events in the case, shown in chronological order.

  1. Caruana Galizia is killed by a car bomb

    A bomb placed in Daphne Caruana Galizia's car exploded shortly after she left her home in Bidnija, killing the investigative journalist.

    Source: Government of Malta ↗

  2. Three men are arrested over the bombing

    Maltese authorities arrested George Degiorgio, Alfred Degiorgio and Vincent Muscat, who were later charged with taking part in the assassination.

    Source: Government of Malta ↗

  3. Yorgen Fenech is arrested

    Police arrested businessman Yorgen Fenech as he attempted to leave Malta. He was later charged with complicity in the journalist's murder and denied the allegation.

    Source: Associated Press ↗

  4. An independent public inquiry begins

    The Maltese government established an inquiry to examine whether the state knew of the danger to Caruana Galizia and failed to take reasonable protective steps.

    Source: Government of Malta ↗

  5. Vincent Muscat pleads guilty

    Muscat admitted his part in the assassination and received a 15-year prison sentence, becoming the first person convicted in the criminal proceedings.

    Source: Associated Press ↗

  6. Public inquiry finds state responsibility

    The inquiry concluded that Maltese authorities had created a culture of impunity and failed to recognize and address the risks faced by Caruana Galizia.

    Source: Associated Press ↗

  7. The Degiorgio brothers plead guilty

    George and Alfred Degiorgio changed their pleas on the first day of their trial and were each sentenced to 40 years in prison for their roles in the bombing.

    Source: Government of Malta ↗

  8. Jury acquits Fenech of complicity

    A Maltese jury found Fenech not guilty of commissioning the assassination. The verdict left unresolved the wider question of who ordered the killing.

    Source: Associated Press ↗
Watch

Case videos

3 videos

The murder of investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia – BBC Newsnight

BBC Politics

Contemporaneous reporting on the assassination and Caruana Galizia's investigative work.

The murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia: Malta's shame? - BBC Newsnight

BBC Politics

Follow-up reporting on the investigation and the political context surrounding the case.

Malta responsible for Daphne Caruana Galizia murder: Inquiry

Al Jazeera English

Concise account of the public inquiry's findings and the family's response.

Play here or open the original video on YouTube.

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