Two men were sentenced to life imprisonment in Malta on Tuesday for supplying the explosive used in the 2017 murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, a case that shook the nation and drew international condemnation.
Robert Agius, aged 41, and Jamie Vella, aged 42, were found guilty last week of complicity in the investigative journalist’s murder by supplying the military-grade explosive that destroyed her car near her home.
Prosecutors had sought life sentences for the accused at the six-week trial.
“We hope today’s verdict represents a step towards a safer world for journalists by showing potential killers that severe penalties await those who murder journalists,” the vicim’s family stated on Tuesday.
Daphne Caruana Galizia, one of Malta’s most renowned journalists, was killed in a car bombing near her home on 16 October 2017.
Two hitmen were already convicted and sentenced to 40 years, while a third received a reduced 15-year sentence in exchange for his testimony.
Caruana Galizia’s murder, stemming from her revelations about political and economic corruption in Malta, sparked international outrage.
Large protests erupted in Malta against former Prime Minister Joseph Muscat - accused of shielding his associates during the investigation - resulting in his resignation in December 2019.
A public inquiry released in 2021 found no evidence of state involvement in Caruana Galizia’s assassination but concluded that the government had fostered a “climate of impunity” for those wishing to silence her.
The trial of businessman Yorgen Fenech, a former government ally suspected of orchestrating the murder, is yet to begin. He was arrested in November 2019 while attempting to flee Malta on his yacht and was released on bail in January 2025.
No trial date has yet been scheduled.
