Today marks two years since the brutal assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia.
It was on a quiet Monday afternoon that we first received the news that a car had been blown up in Bidnija. Our worst fears were confirmed a short while later, when it was announced that Daphne Caruana Galizia, the government’s harshest critic and a long-time opinion writer for this media house, had been silenced forever.
The murder had a profound effect on the country, particularly on the journalism scene. It was the first time that a journalist had been killed because of the stories she was working on and on what she would have undoubtedly revealed in her popular blog.
Daphne was loved and hated in equal measure because of how far she would go in trying to uncover the truth. She was not infallible, and not everyone agreed with her style of writing. Yet many can agree that she was an extremely courageous woman who refused to back down, even when she was fighting the battle on her own. The fact that there are still a number of active libel suits against her, two years after her death, shows how much of a thorn she was in the establishment’s side.
This being one of the highest profile killings this country has ever seen, the police sprung into action and, within a few weeks, three suspects were arrested and charged in court. Yet the masterminds – those who presumably planned and paid for the murder – remain unknown and at large.
The country is yearning for justice, but it seems that it could be a while until those who wanted Daphne silenced are found and brought to trial.
It is understood that this is a complex investigation, with more than one person involved. Recent media reports said a businessman is the main suspect in the case, while other people could have acted as middlemen in the crime.
In a story carried on our front page today, sources close to the investigation have warned that certain reporting could do more harm than good. It is understandable that people want to know who ordered Daphne killed and why. But the media, as well as those behind the information leaks, need to exercise caution before publishing sensitive details that could give the police game away.
The sources have warned that certain reports might tip off the suspects, or indeed put some of the people involved at risk. Yes, two years seems like a long time to identify the masterminds in such a small country, but the investigations are ongoing, and nothing should be done to compromise them.
This country cannot afford another Karin Grech, another Raymond Caruana. Those cases have remained unsolved for decades and have often set the scene for political bitterness and rivalry. It is in everyone’s interest that Daphne’s murder is solved. Only then can the country finally start healing and move forward.
Justice for Daphne means justice for her husband, her children, her parents and the country.