The trial of three men accused of murdering the investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia opened in Valletta on Monday, drawing international scrutiny and a forceful call from the British government for an unimpeded judicial process. Caruana Galizia, 53, was killed by a car bomb outside her home in Bidnija on 16 October 2017. She had been investigating corruption among Malta’s political and business elite, including the Panama Papers scandal.
The defendants, George Degiorgio, Alfred Degiorgio, and Vincent Muscat, are alleged to have carried out the bombing on behalf of intermediaries. They have pleaded not guilty. The trial, held at the Criminal Court in Valletta, is expected to last several weeks. The case has been delayed repeatedly amid procedural disputes, including a challenge over the admissibility of mobile phone evidence.
The British government, which has a track record of pressing for accountability in the case, issued a statement through the Foreign Office insisting that Malta must ensure a fair and transparent trial. The murder drew international condemnation, and Caruana Galizia’s family has long accused Maltese authorities of obstructing the investigation, particularly in pursuing those who ordered the killing. No one has yet been charged with ordering the murder.
The trial comes as Malta faces mounting criticism from the European Union and press freedom organisations over the slow pace of justice in the case. Reporters Without Borders said the trial was a crucial test for Malta’s rule of law. The Maltese government has said it is committed to uncovering the truth.
Caruana Galizia’s son, Andrew, described the trial as a painful but necessary step. Britain’s demand for full justice underscores the case’s geopolitical significance, as it has become a symbol of the dangers facing journalists in the European Union, particularly those exposing corruption. The court’s handling of the evidence will be closely watched by international observers, with the outcome likely to shape diplomatic relations between Malta and its EU partners.
