In a decisive development in Malta’s most high-profile criminal case, Robert Agius and Jamie Vella were found guilty on Thursday of supplying the explosive device used in the 2017 assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia.
The trial jury’s verdict marks another critical milestone in a case that, despite its complexity and global scrutiny, has advanced at an unprecedented pace for Maltese criminal justice. Both Agius and Vella now face serious sentencing, having been directly implicated in providing the means to carry out the brutal car bombing that claimed Caruana Galizia’s life in Bidnija on 16 October 2017.
Justice in Motion: One Step Closer to Closure
With this conviction, Malta sends a strong and unambiguous message: those who orchestrate, enable, or commit acts of political violence will face the full weight of the law.
Already, Vincent Muscat, as well as brothers Alfred and George Degiorgio, have received a combined total of over 100 years in prison for their direct roles in the murder. Another individual connected to the crime remains awaiting trial.
Legal experts and observers alike are noting the rare but encouraging speed with which the Maltese justice system has acted — a sharp contrast to the delays and impunity often seen in cases of such scale and sensitivity.
Institutions That Deliver
This latest conviction is a validation of Malta’s law enforcement and judicial authorities. The successful prosecution of multiple individuals involved in this heinous crime shows that our institutions are functioning, independently and effectively, to ensure justice is served.
In a country often accused of being soft on high-level crime, this case is increasingly becoming a counter-example, a demonstration that, when supported by political will and public scrutiny, the rule of law can prevail.
From National Trauma to Legal Resolution
The murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia sent shockwaves throughout Malta and Europe, casting a long shadow over the country’s democracy. But today, nearly seven years later, that shadow is lifting, not with platitudes, but with verdicts, sentencing, and accountability.
While no conviction can undo the loss, every step taken in court is a step toward justice and a signal that Malta does not forget, and will not look away.
