A trial that could send shockwaves through the world of investigative journalism began today in Valletta. Five men face charges over the 2017 car bomb murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia, the fearless anti-corruption blogger. The proceedings, closely watched by press freedom groups, are being bolstered by a British forensic team deployed to assist Maltese authorities—a rare cross-border collaboration that underscores the international stakes of the case.
For the family and colleagues of Caruana Galizia, who was killed by a bomb planted under the driver's seat of her car, the trial marks a brutal reckoning. They have waited more than five years for this day. But the path to justice has been tangled, marred by allegations of state cover-ups and stalled investigations.
The UK team, comprising experts from the Metropolitan Police and forensic specialists, have been working to analyse digital evidence and phone records. Their involvement follows intense pressure from Brussels after the murder exposed deep flaws in Malta's rule of law. The British government has framed the deployment as part of a broader commitment to protecting journalists worldwide.
"This is not just about one murder," said a senior UK forensics officer, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the ongoing case. "It is about sending a message that there is no safe haven for those who silence journalists."
Inside the courtroom, the accused sat in silence as prosecutors laid out the alleged conspiracy. The mastermind, according to the indictment, is a wealthy businessman whom Caruana Galizia had accused of laundering money and evading taxes. Three of the defendants are alleged to have supplied explosives, while two are accused of detonating the bomb remotely.
But the trial has been overshadowed by a separate inquiry into possible political involvement. Critics say the investigation has been deliberately narrowed to shield those in power. The claim that the UK team is "tracking global justice", however, suggests an urgency that belies local resistance.
For working families in the North of England, where wages are squeezed and trust in institutions is frayed, this case might seem distant. Yet it carries a lesson: corruption anywhere can undermine democracy everywhere. Just as the Grenfell Tower fire exposed regulatory failures, Caruana Galizia's murder laid bare how the wealthy and connected can operate with impunity.
Journalists face increasing danger. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, over 50 journalists have been killed in Europe since 1992, the majority not at war but in their own countries. The UK government's pledge to protect media freedom often rings hollow when journalists here face legal threats and police raids. The Caruana Galizia case could set a precedent for how seriously such cases are pursued.
The trial is expected to last several months. The judge has imposed a strict restrition on cameras and recordings, but the public gallery is packed daily. Outside the courthouse, supporters hold photos of Caruana Galizia with the slogan "Justice for Daphne."
Whether that justice arrives remains uncertain. But one fact is clear: as the UK team sifts through gigabytes of data, they are not just chasing killers. They are trying to repair a hole in the fabric of European democracy.
