A Maltese jury delivered a not‑guilty verdict on Thursday for businessman Keith Schembri, who had been charged with conspiracy to murder investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia in 2017. The trial, which lasted four weeks, hinged on disputed phone records and alleged financial motives. The defense successfully argued that the evidence was circumstantial and that key witnesses had credibility issues. While the acquittal clears Schembri of criminal liability, the case has reignited public demand for a full inquiry into the broader network of corruption and intimidation that plagued Malta’s media landscape. International watchdogs have called for stronger protections for journalists in the wake of the verdict.
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