The trial for the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia, the Maltese journalist assassinated by a car bomb in 2017, began today in Valletta. Three men accused of carrying out the bombing face life sentences. But the case has always been about more than the triggermen. It is about who ordered the hit. The political fallout. The story of a journalist who named names, including those of the prime minister's chief of staff and a minister who later resigned. A journalist who exposed wrongdoing in high places.
UK unions are watching closely. The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) has called for international observers to be allowed into the trial. They want the European Union to step in. They say it is a test of transnational justice. The EU has already withheld funds from Malta over concerns about the rule of law. But the question remains: will the masterminds ever be held accountable? Sources in the European Parliament tell me they are frustrated. They say the Maltese government has dragged its feet. They point to the resignation of the police commissioner, the slow progress of the public inquiry. But now, at least, the trial is underway.
This is not just a Maltese story. It is a story for every journalist who has faced threats. For every reporter in a democracy where the line between politics and organised crime is blurred. Caruana Galizia's murder sent a chill through the press corps across Europe. Here in Westminster, the mood is sombre. Backbenchers on both sides are asking questions. What can the UK do? We have left the EU, but we have not left the community of journalists. The Foreign Office has issued a statement expressing confidence in Malta's judiciary. But privately, officials admit they are watching the trial closely. They know that if the truth is not fully uncovered, it will embolden other authoritarians. Other hitmen.
The trial will be held in a high-security court. The defendants include three men with links to organised crime. The prosecution says they planted the bomb. But the real target, they argue, is the prime minister's chief of staff, who was named by Caruana Galizia in her blog. He has not been charged. He denies any involvement. The court will hear evidence from phone records, from surveillance, from a middleman who turned state witness. But will the trail lead higher? That is the question the NUJ wants answered. They have written to the Council of Europe. They are asking for a special tribunal if the Maltese courts cannot deliver justice.
Meanwhile, the family of Caruana Galizia watches from a distance. They have waited more than five years. They want justice for their murdered mother. But they know the system is flawed. They know the trial is just one step. They are calling on the international community to keep up the pressure. The UK union is not alone. Reporters Without Borders and the International Federation of Journalists are also calling for a transparent process. The message is clear: you cannot kill a journalist and get away with it.
The trial is expected to last several weeks. The verdict will be watched for signs of political interference. If the men are convicted, it will be a victory of sorts. But it will not be complete justice. Not until those who ordered the assassination are also in the dock. That is the fight ahead. And it is a fight that transcends borders.
As one senior Labour MP put it to me: 'This is about the principle that no one is above the law. Not in Malta. Not in the UK. Not anywhere.' The case of Daphne Caruana Galizia is a reminder that journalism is a dangerous job. But also that the search for truth must never stop. The trial is now open. The world is watching.
