Archive · 26 Aug 2026
Defence lawyer shifts blame in Malta journalist murder trial
Journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia was killed by a car bomb in Malta in 2017.
Yorgen Fenech is accused of helping organize the murder.
He says he did not do it.
His lawyer told the court that former government official Keith Schembri was the real target of the journalist’s reporting and may have had a reason to want her killed.
Schembri denies being involved.
A man named Melvin Theuma says Fenech helped provide money for the killers.
Theuma received a state pardon for becoming a witness.
Fenech says the money was meant to keep Theuma under control, not pay for the murder.
Three men who planted the bomb have already been convicted.
Yorgen Fenech’s defence accused former government official Keith Schembri of ordering Daphne Caruana Galizia’s murder.
Lawyer Charles Mercieca said Caruana Galizia was killed over what she had written about Schembri, not Fenech.
Schembri has denied involvement, and police said he was never considered a suspect.
Middleman Melvin Theuma implicated Fenech after receiving a state pardon and becoming a prosecution witness.
Fenech denies the charges and says money he gave Theuma was intended to control him, not fund the murder.
- Who
- Businessman Yorgen Fenech is on trial; journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia was the victim. Defence lawyer Charles Mercieca blamed former government official Keith Schembri, while witness Melvin Theuma implicated Fenech.
- What
- Fenech is accused of complicity in Caruana Galizia’s murder and of criminal association to commit murder.
- When
- Caruana Galizia was killed in October 2017; Fenech’s trial began on July 1 and was expected to conclude the following month.
- Where
- The killing and trial took place in Malta.
- Why
- The defence says Schembri had a motive because of Caruana Galizia’s reporting, while Theuma said Fenech feared damaging stories about himself, his family and his business dealings.
Defence allegations
Prosecution evidence
Who wanted Caruana Galizia killed?
Defence allegations
The defence says Keith Schembri was the real culprit and that the murder was connected to Caruana Galizia’s reporting about him.
Prosecution evidence
Melvin Theuma implicated Yorgen Fenech, saying Fenech wanted the journalist killed because he feared damaging stories about himself, his family and his business dealings.
Meaning of payments to Theuma
Defence allegations
Fenech admits giving Theuma cash but says it was intended to keep him under control during the police investigation, not to pay for the murder.
Prosecution evidence
Theuma says Fenech provided funds to pay the hitmen and later cover their defence costs.
Credibility of the evidence
Defence allegations
Fenech’s lawyer called Theuma’s account a “fairytale” and said Fenech was in the United States when Theuma claimed he asked Fenech to arrange the murder.
Prosecution evidence
Theuma became a state witness after receiving a pardon and gave evidence implicating Fenech.
- Accused
- Yorgen Fenech, a 44-year-old Maltese property heir
- Victim
- Journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia
- Date of killing
- October 2017
- Trial start
- July 1
- Key witness
- Melvin Theuma, who turned state’s evidence after receiving a state pardon
- Convicted participants
- Three men who planted the bomb have already been convicted
- Potential sentence
- Life imprisonment for complicity to murder, or up to 18 years for criminal association to commit murder