On 16 October 2017, around this time, Daphne Caruana Galizia was killed when her car, a Peugeot 108, was destroyed by a powerful explosive device which blew the vehicle into several pieces and threw the debris into a nearby field.
The car bomb was triggered close to her home, attracting widespread local and international reactions.
These are the salient facts that followed:
16 October, 2017
Daphne Caruana Galizia was killed by a car bomb as she left her home in Bidnija.
Thousands of people take part in a spontaneous vigil in Sliema that evening to express their grief.
17 October, 2017
Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera, who was duty magistrate at the time of the murder, recuses herself from the investigation after a request submitted by Caruana Galizia’s family. Magistrate Anthony Vella takes her place.
People gather outside the law courts demanding truth and justice while laying notes and flowers on the Great Siege monument.
22 October, 2017
A protest is organised in Valletta by the Civil Society Network calling for the immediate removal of the Police Commissioner and the Attorney General. Activists demand new appointments chosen by a three-thirds parliamentary vote.
24 October, 2017
The European Parliament observes a minute’s silence in honour of Daphne Caruana Galizia.
3 November, 2017
Daphne Caruana Galizia is laid to rest.
30 November to 1 December, 2017
An MEP delegation visits the country on a fact-finding mission following a resolution in the European Parliament on the rule of law in Malta which passes with 466 votes in favour, 49 against and 160 abstentions.
4 December, 2017
A joint operation by the police and the Armed Forces arrested ten individuals in connection with the murder.
5 December, 2017
Vince Muscat, 55, Alfred Degiorgio, 52, and George Degiorgio, 54, are charged with the execution of the murder. The other men detained the day before are discharged.
14 December, 2017
The defence submits a request for Magistrate Donatella Frendo Dimech to recuse herself from hearing the compilation of evidence because she was in the same class with Daphne Caruana Galizia’s sister.
18 December, 2017
Magistrate Charmaine Galea also recuses herself based on articles that Caruana Galizia had written about her appointment. She was replaced by Magistrate Claire Stafrace Zammit.
21 December, 2017
The court rules that there is enough prima facie evidence for the accused to stand trial, giving a start to the compilation of evidence.
15 April, 2018
Journalists from 18 international news organisations, including Reuters, The New York Times, and The Guardian form The Daphne Project to continue Caruana Galizia’s investigations.
18 April, 2018
The Daphne Project publishes documents claiming that €1.3 million was transferred to secretive Dubai company 17 Black, which was listed as a ‘target client’ by the Panama companies owned by minister Konrad Mizzi and the Prime Minister’s chief of staff Keith Schembri.
23 May, 2018
Reports say that two laptops used by Daphne Caruana Galizia were in the possession of the German police.
25 June, 2018
Magistrate Anthony Vella is promoted to Judge. The case passes to Magistrate Neville Camilleri.
8 September, 2018
The Great Siege monument, which was turned into a makeshift memorial for the slain journalist, was boarded off for restoration works. Activists deplored the order by Justice and Culture Minister Owen Bonnici.
5 October, 2018
The Court of Appeal upheld a ruling that Deputy Commissioner Silvio Valletta cannot be involved in the case because of spousal ties to government minister Justyne Caruana.
8 October, 2018
The Daphne Project alleges that Minister Chris Cardona was one of 40 guests at a bachelor’s party to which suspect Alfred Degiorgio was also invited. The minister claimed he had no recollection of ever meeting the accused.
The story also claims that ship-owner Pierre Darmanin made calls to Alfred Degiorgio and Chris Cardona in October 2016, following questions by Caruana Galizia about fuel smuggling activities.
9 October, 2018
The Prime Minister declared his disagreement with an independent inquiry into the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia while a magisterial inquiry was already being conducted.
10 October, 2018
MEPs across political groups supported calls by the Caruana Galizia family for an independent public inquiry.
14 October, 2018
Sources close to the investigation denied claims by The Daphne Project that Pierre Darmanin called minister Chris Cardona shortly after the ship-owner spoke with Daphne Caruana Galizia. However, he did contact accused brothers Alfred and George Degiorgio after that conversation.
16 October, 2018
A march was organised in Valletta to mark the first anniversary since the murder. Parliament was suspended.
17 October, 2018
International media organisations expressed serious concern over press freedom in Malta following a mission in the country. The group called for an independent inquiry into the murder.
12 November, 2018
The Director General of the Cleansing Department told the court that instructions to remove notes, flowers and candles placed on the Great Siege monument to pay tribute to Daphne Caruana Galizia were given by Minister Owen Bonnici.
11 June, 2019
A request by Alfred and George Degiorgio for a meeting with MEPs Ana Gomes and David Casa was rejected by the Courts.
26 June, 2019
A Council of Europe report on the handling of the assassination investigation raised serious concerns about the rule of law in Malta. The report was approved with 72 votes in favour, 18 against and three abstentions.
16 July, 2019
The Attorney General filed a bill of indictment against George Degiorgio, Alfred Degiorgio and Vince Muscat, charged with the assassination of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia..
17 July, 2019
Mr Justice Aaron Bugeja was drawn by lot to preside over the trial of the three suspects. The judge led the Egrant inquiry as a magistrate before being promoted to the bench.
19 September, 2019
Prime Minister Joseph Muscat repeated his offer to drop libel proceedings against Daphne Caruana Galizia if her family first accepted the findings of the Egrant inquiry.
The Caruana Galizias said that their position was unchanged and called the Prime Minister’s words as blackmail.
20 September, 2019
A commission was appointed to conduct a public inquiry into the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia. Retired Judge Michael Mallia was appointed president of the commission with former Dean of the Faculty of Law Professor Ian Refalo and forensic expert Dr Anthony Abela Medici as members
22 September, 2019
The Caruana Galizia family raised concerns over the composition of the commission and requested an urgent meeting with the Prime Minister. Civil society NGOs also questioned the suitability of the members of the commission.
26 September, 2019
The Nationalist Party parliamentary group declares disagreement with the appointment of Professor Ian Refalo and Anthony Abela Medici as part of the public inquiry.
6 October, 2019
Mr Justice Aaron Bugeja recused himself from the trial of the men accused with the assassination. Judge Edwina Grima was selected to preside over the case.
CD
