# Maltese journalist killed by a bomb placed in her car **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 18, 2017, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maltese-journalist-killed-by-a-bomb-placed-in-her-car/799221 "2017-10-18T12:48:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![JoseB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/joseb/32/1530_2.png) [@JoseB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoseB)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2017, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maltese-journalist-killed-by-a-bomb-placed-in-her-car/799221/1 "2017-10-18T12:48:33Z")
On October 16th, Daphne Caruana Galizia, Maltese journalist who was a very harsh critic of the Maltese government and had constantly exposed corruption scandals in her country, mostly related to the “Panama Papers”, died near her home as her car exploded while she was driving it. [[Semtex explosive believed used in Caruana Galizia murder](https://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20171018/local/semtex-explosive-believed-used-in-caruana-galizia-murder.660704)]Apparently the explosive used was Semtex. She was mostly active in her blog, where she mercilessly skewered Maltese politicians and exposed their alleged links with money laundering and the Mafia. But, although she was usually called a “blogger”, she was also a columnist and reporter for the “Times of Malta”. She was one of the journalists working with the “Panama Papers”, and two weeks ago she notified the police that she had been receiving death threats. This is a very serious event. My WAG is that this attacks bears the hallmarks of a Mafia hit. Whether the Mafia acted on their own or they were asked by somebody else to “do something” with the journalist, though… that is another question. Reviled as the mainstream media is in certain quarters, this is a reminder that its reporters fulfill an important mission and that, sometimes, they pay the ultimate price for their efforts in bringing light to murky corners. Some links to the news and commentaries from different media: [The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/17/the-situation-is-desperate-murdered-maltese-journalists-daphne-caruana-galizia-final-words). [Editorial in The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/17/the-guardian-view-on-murdering-the-messenger-a-desperate-situation). [The BBC](http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-41637730) [The New York Times](https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/16/world/europe/daphne-caruana-galizia-journalist-malta.html). ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2017, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maltese-journalist-killed-by-a-bomb-placed-in-her-car/799221/2 "2017-10-18T16:37:13Z")
That this kind of thing can happen is outrageous and infuriating. Ms. Galizia is a hero. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2019, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maltese-journalist-killed-by-a-bomb-placed-in-her-car/799221/3 "2019-07-17T03:47:04Z")
Updating this thread: > [@](#): > > Three men have been formally charged over the 2017 murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia, a Maltese anti-corruption journalist and blogger who was killed by a car bomb in November 2017. > > Brothers Alfred and George Degiorgio, and Vincent Muscat, all in their fifties, were arrested in December of that year. > > The justice ministry’s confirmation of the charges, which allows a trial to be held, came on Tuesday just days before a 20-month deadline. The public prosecutor has further 20 months to set a date for the trial, which legal experts say may not take place for years. > **[Three formally charged in Malta for murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jul/16/daphne-caruana-galizia-murder-charged-three-malta)** > > Trial over anti-corruption journalist’s killing may not take place for years, say experts ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2026, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maltese-journalist-killed-by-a-bomb-placed-in-her-car/799221/4 "2026-07-02T04:42:40Z")
So nine years after this thread started the criminal process still hasn’t been completed. See the Wikipedia article for updates: > **[Daphne Caruana Galizia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caruana_Galizia)** > > Daphne Anne Caruana Galizia (née Vella; 26 August 1964 – 16 October 2017) was a Maltese writer, journalist, blogger and anti-corruption activist who reported on political events in Malta. She was known internationally for her investigation of the Panama Papers and subsequent assassination by a car bomb. > Caruana Galizia focused on investigative journalism, reporting on government corruption, nepotism, patronage, and allegations of money laundering, links between Malta's online gambling industr... And the latest news is: > One of Malta’s wealthiest businessmen plotted to kill the investigative journalist [Daphne Caruana Galizia](https://www.theguardian.com/world/daphne-caruana-galizia), paying €150,000 (£130,000) for three hitmen to carry out the murder, a jury has heard. Yorgen Fenech, the 44-year-old heir to a property empire that includes the Hilton [Malta](https://www.theguardian.com/world/malta) hotel and casino, is on trial for the 2017 murder… Fenech was arrested seven years ago. After numerous delays and his release on bail in February after the time during which he could legally be held expired, his trial began on Wednesday morning at the courts of justice in Malta’s capital, Valletta. > **[Maltese businessman paid hitmen €150,000 to kill Daphne Caruana Galizia, jury...](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jul/01/malta-yorgen-fenech-hitmen-150000-euros-daphne-caruana-galizia-jury-hears)** > > Yorgen Fenech, heir to property empire, on trial for alleged involvement in murder of journalist, which he denies ---
**Author:** ![Mk\_VII](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Mk\_VII](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mk_VII)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2026, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maltese-journalist-killed-by-a-bomb-placed-in-her-car/799221/5 "2026-07-02T13:19:27Z")
That’s Malta for you. A tight little crew runs the place. The boys have got everything under control, and if you know what’s good for you, look the other way. This was intended to be a warning to anyone else who wants to start turning stones over. Some minor fall guy may agree to take the rap, for a nominal sentence. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2026, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maltese-journalist-killed-by-a-bomb-placed-in-her-car/799221/6 "2026-09-02T21:17:07Z")
But now: **A jury in Malta acquits a businessman in the killing of reporter Daphne Caruana Galizia** [https://www.npr.org/2026/09/02/nx-s1-5954420/daphne-caruana-galizia-case-yorgen-fenech-acquitted-malta](https://www.npr.org/2026/09/02/nx-s1-5954420/daphne-caruana-galizia-case-yorgen-fenech-acquitted-malta)