Maltese Court Upholds Convictions in Daphne Caruana Galizia Murder Case

January 23, 2026 – Malta –

A Maltese court of appeal has rejected an attempt by two convicted bomb suppliers to overturn their life sentences in connection with the 2017 assassination of investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, marking a significant judicial milestone in one of Europe’s most high-profile crimes against the press. The decision, delivered in January 2026, maintains that Robert Agius and Jamie Vella will continue to serve life imprisonment for their role in supplying the military-grade explosives used in the deadly car bomb attack.

Caruana Galizia, a prominent Maltese investigative journalist and blogger, was killed on October 16, 2017, when a bomb placed under her car **detonated as she drove away from her home in Bidnija. Her work had focused on government corruption, organised crime, and political patronage — reporting that drew wide attention and controversy in Malta and abroad.

The appeal by Agius and Vella, convicted in June 2025 after a lengthy six-week trial, sought to have their life sentences quashed, claiming the punishment was excessive or disproportionate given their roles as accomplices rather than direct perpetrators. They also raised procedural arguments regarding juror conduct, pre-trial publicity, and the credibility of state witnesses. However, the Court of Appeal dismissed all these claims in a detailed ruling, affirming that life sentences were appropriate given the gravity of the crime and its impact on press freedom and the rule of law in Malta.

International press freedom organisations, including the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), the International Press Institute (IPI), and other media rights groups, welcomed the appellate decision as progress toward justice in a case that had languished for years with significant delays and unresolved aspects. These groups noted that although the appeal outcome strengthens accountability, full justice remains incomplete until all individuals implicated in the planning and orchestration of the assassination — including alleged masterminds yet to be convicted — are brought to trial and sentenced.

The Caruana Galizia case has had profound domestic and international repercussions, prompting widespread public outrage in Malta and sparking political fallout that included the resignation of then-Prime Minister Joseph Muscat in 2019 amid criticism of official handling of the investigation. Despite the convictions of Agius, Vella, and others tied to executing the attack, personalities such as businessman Yorgen Fenech, accused of complicity in arranging the bombing, have remained out on bail pending further proceedings, drawing continued scrutiny over the pace and scope of justice.

Caruana Galizia’s assassination remains emblematic of the risks faced by investigative journalists internationally, particularly those exposing state corruption and organised crime. The appellate court’s upholding of sentences for bomb suppliers is viewed by rights advocates as a necessary step toward ending impunity for crimes against journalists in Europe, but critics argue that broader systemic and legal reforms are still needed to ensure such attacks are fully addressed and prevented.

Reference – 

Malta: Convicted bomb suppliers lose appeal over Daphne Caruana Galizia murder

Malta: Convicted bomb suppliers lose appeal over Daphne Caruana Galizia murder

Malta rejects appeal of bomb suppliers in Daphne Caruana Galizia’s murder