Peter Caruana Galizia
Peter Caruana Galizia is the husband of late Malta based journalist, Daphne Caruana Galizia –who was killed in a car bomb, last October.
Peter’s 53-year-old wife was known for her blog accusing top politicians of corruption. Earlier this week at least, 10 Maltese nationals were arrested in connection with the murder. Police operations took place in the town of Marsa, and the Bugibba and Zebbug areas.
Described as “one of Malta’s most important, visible, fearless journalists” Daphne dedicated most of her life to reports on alleged corruption among politicians across party lines. She did most of her relentless reporting on her blog, Running Commentary. Some of her most recent work included the Panama Papers tax scandal.
With a career spanning more than three decades, Daphne was also a regular columnist with The Sunday Times of Malta and later The Malta Independent. She leaves behind a husband and children. Meet him below.
#1 Daphne and her husband were married for decades.
Peter Caruana Galizia and Daphne Vella were married in 1985, meaning the couple was married for 32-years.
#2 Peter Caruana Galizia was the father of her children
The two expanded into a family of five with the arrival of three sons: Matthew, Andrew and Paul. Along with his sons, Peter is currently fighting 36 of 47 libel cases pending against Daphne as the plaintiffs have decided to continue the cases despite her death. In the past few months the couple’s eldest son was sued by the Prime Minister and their middle son was recalled from a diplomatic posting.
#3 Mr. Caruana Galizia is a lawyer
According to his LinkedIn, Peter attended Malta University from 1975 until 1981, obtaining a law degree. He is listed as the owner at BCGL ADVOCATES since 1998.
#4 He was supportive of his wife
In a heartbreaking tribute to his wife, Peter said
“My wife Daphne was an extraordinary woman, but you probably know this already because no one would go to such lengths to silence a woman who doesn’t matter. My wife was killed because she mattered, because the powerful were afraid of her and because the criminals were infuriated by her. When all legal means were exhausted and when all threats proved ineffective, there was only one solution left. My wife was executed suddenly, mercilessly and violently a few metres away from the home in which we raised our family.
To say my wife is brave…was brave, sorry, is true, but bravery has little value without a sense of purpose and a sense of injustice and without a capacity for outrage. Daphne’s investigative work taught her more than anyone cared to know about Malta’s underworld and its links to politics, about how laws are bent to favour the powerful and public goods diverted to private interests.
Read Peter’s full speech here.
#5 He once filed a police report against her
Back in 2010, Peter filed a police report against Mrs Caruana Galizia, claiming they had had an argument and she had thrown a plate at him, injuring him slightly. He ended up dropping the charges.
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