Slain Maltese journalist's family wants top cop off probe

JournalismPakistan.com | Published: 23 November 2017

Daphne Caruana Galizia's family is pushing for the removal of Deputy Police Chief Silvio Valletta from the investigation into her murder. The family argues his involvement is inappropriate due to past criticisms from the journalist.
Summary

VALLETTA, Malta - The family of a Maltese investigative journalist killed by a car bomb blast wants a top police official removed from the murder probe. Therese Comodini-Cachia, a lawyer for Daphne Caruana Galizia's family, said a first hearing was set Thursday for December 12 as part of the family's legal efforts aimed at getting Deputy Police Chief Silvio Valletta off the case. Valletta and his wife, Justyne Caruana, minister for Gozo island, were targets of the journalist's criticism. Caruana isn't related to Caruana Galizia, who was slain on October 16, when a bomb destroyed her car as she drove near home. Maltese police are investigating with the help of the FBI, Europol and Dutch forensic experts. Valletta was appointed to a government anti-money-laundering agency, which the reporter criticized. Her work probed Maltese tax havens. - AP/Photo: Reuters

Key Points

Daphne Caruana Galizia was killed by a car bomb in October.
The family is calling for Deputy Police Chief Silvio Valletta's removal from the investigation.
Valletta and his wife were criticized in Galizia's reporting.
A preliminary hearing is set for December 12.
The investigation involves collaboration with the FBI and Europol.

Relevant Topics

Maltese Journalist

Murder Probe

Police Chief

Investigation

Daphne Caruana Galizia

Legal Action

Ask AI: Understand this story your way

AI Enabled

Dig deeper, ask anything — get instant context, background, and clarity.

Language

Format

Tone

Audience

Focus

Reading level

Length

The AI generates results based on your selected options

Your AI-generated results will appear here after you click the button.

Disclaimer: This feature is powered by AI and is intended to help readers explore and understand news stories more easily. While we strive for accuracy, AI-generated responses may occasionally be incomplete or reflect limitations in the underlying model. This feature does not represent the editorial views of JournalismPakistan. For our full, verified reporting, please refer to the original article.

Why social media is a battleground for Pakistani journalists

April 22, 2026: Pakistani journalists' social media presence has moved professional disputes into public view, amplifying conflicts and blurring lines between reporting and branding.

From regulation to resignations: Pakistan's media fault lines

April 19, 2026: Pakistan's media faced regulatory scrutiny, leadership changes and digital consolidation, highlighting industry stress and rising international recognition.

Five stories showing pressure on Pakistan media

April 13, 2026: Five incidents show growing legal, economic and state pressure on Pakistan's media, from cybercrime cases and opaque ads to layoffs and access constraints.

A global story, locally missing: Pakistan media under scrutiny

April 12, 2026: Pakistan's media received global attention during Iran-US talks in Islamabad but mostly ran agency tickers and official optics, exposing gaps in beat reporting.

Islamabad Talks: Access is the first casualty of journalism

April 12, 2026: As US-Iran talks in Islamabad concluded, journalists reported that tight security and enforced perimeters limited direct access and source engagement, constraining real-time reporting.

Pakistan journalists flag access issues at Iran-US talks

April 11, 2026: Pakistani journalists say they faced restricted access and unequal accreditation at Iran-US diplomatic events, citing limited communication by media teams.

Pakistan opens visa-on-arrival for foreign journalists

April 10, 2026: Pakistan will allow visa-on-arrival for foreign journalists and delegates attending the Islamabad Talks 2026; local media reportedly face restrictions on live reporting.

Pakistan assembly queries on ad spending go unanswered

April 07, 2026: Lawmakers received no answers from Pakistan's Information Ministry on media ad spending, raising concerns over transparency in allocation of public funds.

Newsroom

Read it your way: How Journalism Pakistan's AI feature works

April 23, 2026 JournalismPakistan.com's AI tool offers readers tailored explanations, summaries, plain language, bullet takeaways, or Urdu, while preserving human-led original reporting.

Kuwait court acquits journalist Ahmed Shihab-Eldin

April 23, 2026 A Kuwaiti court has acquitted U.S.-Kuwaiti journalist Ahmed Shihab-Eldin of all charges, his international counsel said; he is expected to be released imminently.

Lebanese reporter killed in Israeli strikes

April 23, 2026 A Lebanese reporter was killed covering Israeli airstrikes near the Lebanon-Israel border, highlighting rising dangers for media in frontline areas.

Journalism Pakistan introduces a new era of news: understand stories your way

April 22, 2026 Journalism Pakistan launches an AI-powered system that lets readers understand the news the way they want, offering summaries, Urdu versions, and contextual insights for a more personalized reading experience.

Local news decline worsens global trust crisis

April 22, 2026 The decline of local news is eroding civic engagement and public accountability by reducing local information and curbing coverage of municipal affairs.