Nearly nine years after the assassination of investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, her sister Corrine Vella has described the start of Yorgen Fenech’s long-awaited trial by jury as “a relief”, saying the family now hopes justice will finally be served.In an exclusive comment to Lovin Malta, Vella reflected on the opening of proceedings.“It is a relief to finally see the start of a trial that should have begun and ended years ago,” she said. “What we want is to see justice done. Daphne deserves no less.”Vella has been one of the most steadfast voices in the family’s pursuit of justice since her sister was killed in a car bomb attack outside her Bidnija home on 16th October 2017. Alongside Daphne’s husband Peter and sons Matthew, Andrew and Paul, she has spent years attending court hearings, speaking publicly about the case and advocating for press freedom and accountability in Malta.Wednesday marked a major milestone in that years-long journey as businessman Yorgen Fenech’s trial by jury officially got underway. Fenech has pleaded not guilty to charges of complicity in Daphne Caruana Galizia’s assassination, with prosecutors alleging he masterminded the murder – an accusation he denies.The trial comes almost seven years after Fenech’s arrest in November 2019 and nearly nine years after Caruana Galizia’s murder.Following years of constitutional challenges and other court proceedings, the case has now entered its most significant phase. A jury of nine, along with six reserve jurors, has been empanelled, and proceedings are expected to continue over several weeks as the prosecution and defence present their casesDaphne Caruana Galizia was one of Malta’s best-known investigative journalists, renowned for exposing alleged corruption involving powerful political and business figures. Her assassination sent shockwaves across Malta and Europe, sparking widespread protests, a public inquiry and years of calls for justice and institutional reform•