The family of Daphne Caruana Galizia has described Yorgen Fenech’s acquittal as “justice denied”, saying accountability remains overdue following the investigative journalist’s assassination.In a shocking verdict, Fenech was found not guilty of both charges he faced in connection with Caruana Galizia’s murder, with an 8-1 majority of jurors acquitting him of complicity in her murder and, by the same majority, of criminal association.In a statement issued shortly after the verdict, Caruana Galizia’s family said they were grateful to those who had worked to bring Fenech to justice, singling out lawyers Therese Comodini Cachia and Jason Azzopardi, as well as the police, prosecution, judiciary, press and civil society in Malta and abroad.“Today should have belonged to Daphne,” the family said, adding that her dreams and those of her family were “shattered” when she was killed outside her home at the age of 53.The family said that during Fenech’s months-long trial they heard numerous people testify, but stressed that they would “never see or hear Daphne again”.“Accountability is now overdue for all those who enabled, facilitated, or protected her murderers,” they said.The statement went on to argue that, had Caruana Galizia not been killed, the family believes she would have exposed corrupt links involving Fenech, then-Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi and the Prime Minister’s then-Chief of Staff Keith Schembri, centred around Fenech’s company, 17 Black.The family also referred to evidence presented during the trial concerning Fenech’s view of Electrogas, as well as documents relating to 17 Black and financial transactions.They said they believe the motive behind Caruana Galizia’s murder was to stop her investigating Fenech’s secret company, 17 Black, and its financial dealings.The family also called for justice over what it described as “the corruption that made Daphne’s murder possible”, pointing to ongoing proceedings.They named Yorgen Fenech, fellow Electrogas director Paul Apap Bologna, Konrad Mizzi, Keith Schembri, Brian Tonna, Karl Cini and Mario Pullicino, saying they and their various companies are already variously charged with bribery and corruption in connection with the Electrogas project.The family also stressed that Fenech faces separate proceedings in which he is charged with bribing the police inspector who was responsible for the Economic Crimes Unit and the investigation into his company, 17 Black.They further highlighted that Schembri is being prosecuted for allegedly leaking information from the murder investigation to Fenech.“Other prosecutions may follow,” the family said.The statement concluded with a stark warning that the institutional problems surrounding Caruana Galizia’s assassination remain unresolved.“Nine years after Daphne’s brutal assassination, the institutional failures that enabled her murder remain unaddressed and unreformed,” the family said.“Lasting justice means no person should ever face the same risks again. Our country failed to protect Daphne’s life. It owes it to her to prevent other lives being lost.”The verdict came on the 55th day of Fenech’s trial, during which jurors heard extensive evidence and testimony surrounding Caruana Galizia’s assassination.The verdicts were delivered following jury deliberations on Wednesday after Judge Edwina Grima sent the jurors out at the end of her address.Fenech, who also took the witness stand during the trial, had consistently denied the charges against him in connection with Caruana Galizia’s murder. She was killed by a car bomb on 16th October 2017.•