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April 25, 2025 – Mexico –
The long-awaited trial over the 2017 car bomb murder of Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia has entered a critical phase, with graphic evidence and dramatic testimony shedding new light on one of Europe’s most shocking attacks on the press. Alongside the trial for the murder of lawyer Carmel Chircop, the proceedings are centered around the notorious Maksar gang, whose alleged ties to organized crime and political corruption have shaken Malta to its core.
On the second day of the trial, forensic experts testified that numerous pieces of shrapnel—including screws and metal fragments—were recovered from Caruana Galizia’s body after the explosion. The devastating car bomb that killed her outside her home was described in chilling detail, underscoring the brutality of the assassination. The forensic report revealed that the device was designed to ensure maximum destruction and showed clear intent to kill.
The Maksar brothers, Adrian and Robert Agius, are accused of providing the bomb that killed Caruana Galizia, while others in their criminal network allegedly assisted in its construction and execution. They also face charges in the murder of Chircop, a lawyer killed in a separate 2015 case. Both crimes are being tried concurrently due to overlapping evidence and connections between the accused.
Court testimony has pointed to a web of corruption, contract killing, and intimidation stretching beyond the immediate perpetrators. Caruana Galizia had been investigating financial misconduct and government-linked scandals at the time of her death. Her reporting had named powerful business and political figures, making her a target for those threatened by her work.
The trial is being closely monitored by international press freedom organizations, many of whom see the outcome as a test of Malta’s ability to deliver justice and confront entrenched corruption. The proceedings are also being viewed as a moment of reckoning for the Maltese justice system, which has faced criticism for years of inaction and political interference.
As the trial unfolds, the focus remains not only on accountability for Caruana Galizia’s murder but also on the broader fight to protect investigative journalism across Europe.
Reference –
https://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/134700/maksar_gang_trial_continues
https://timesofmalta.com/article/screws-bomb-killed-daphne-found-lodged-body-blownup-car.1108849
