The trial of Yorgen Fenech, a prominent Maltese businessman accused of orchestrating the 2017 murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, continued with testimony from her son, Matthew Caruana Galizia. Matthew, a software engineer who was closely involved in his mother’s investigative work, described the journalist’s focus on alleged corruption linked to Fenech and elements of the Maltese government prior to her death.

Fenech, heir to one of Malta’s largest fortunes, faces charges of commissioning and financing the car bombing that killed Caruana Galizia in October 2017. The prosecution presented Matthew Caruana Galizia to the court as a key witness, outlining the circumstances surrounding his mother’s final investigation into the Electrogas energy project, which she believed was steeped in corruption.

Matthew Caruana Galizia recounted how he had contributed to his mother’s work by organizing and analyzing data, including numerous emails that implicated Fenech in the tendering process for the energy project. He stated that when he began processing this information, it became clear to him that Fenech was “at the centre of everything” related to the scandal. However, during testimony, the presiding judge clarified that some of the witness’s characterizations, such as describing the tendering process as corrupt, were considered opinions rather than established facts.

The witness also revealed that on the day of the journalist’s death, the investigation into the alleged corruption was still ongoing. Caruana Galizia had planned to assemble a team of journalists to scrutinize the leaked documents in a collaborative effort similar to the Panama Papers project, for which Matthew had previously worked as part of the reporting team. However, those plans were cut short by her assassination. Matthew said he had reached out to various media outlets, including one based in the United Kingdom, to pursue the investigation before the attack occurred.

In the aftermath of the murder, Matthew Caruana Galizia played a central role in launching the Daphne Project, a multinational journalistic collaboration including several international media organizations, aimed at continuing his mother’s work on Electrogas and advancing the investigation into her death.

Matthew described the traumatic moments of the bombing to the court. He recounted that on the day of the attack, they had been working together at home when she left to run an errand. Shortly after, he heard an explosion and witnessed the scene of devastation, identifying his mother’s body amid the wreckage. He also testified that he had put his career on hold to focus on seeking justice for his mother, acknowledging the significant personal sacrifices involved.

Fenech has denied all charges against him. The trial remains ongoing as the court continues to examine evidence related to one of Malta’s most high-profile criminal cases.