European Parliament President Roberta Metsola was one of the first to break the silence, saying that “today is not justice, it is a small step”.

“It’s been half a decade of agony for Daphne’s family and for the country. Daphne still cannot write her blog, enjoy her children and grandchildren, potter in her garden or be with her loved ones.”

“Now for those who ordered and paid for it, those who protected them and those who spent years doing everything imaginable to try to cover it up…”

One of Daphne’s sons, Paul, was also one of the first to react to the outcome, tweeting “a break in the clouds” shortly after the Degiorgio brothers pleaded guilty to the charges.

His brother Andrew, later said that “all I can think of is how much we owe my mother.”

One of Daphne’s sisters, Corrine Vella, said that while “the guilty plea came five years too late, yesterday’s sentencing of two of the contract killers is a step towards full justice for Daphne’s assassination”.

“It doesn’t end here. Justice must be served in the other murder proceedings and justice must be served on everyone whose corruption Daphne exposed.”

Malta’s longest-serving MEP David Casa, also spoke out, similarly stating that justice must be brought to everybody involved in her assassination.

“For there to be justice for Daphne, everybody involved needs to be brought to justice. Not just those who planted the bomb and set it off. But those who ordered her to be killed.”

“And those in office who bent over backwards to protect them,” he concluded.

Caruana Galizia Lawyer Jason Azzopardi also said that “there’s a lot more left, but we will get there,” while referring to the full course of justice that needs to be taken.

“On the eve of the anniversary of her death, after months and months of work, research, insults, threats, today a big step was made towards justice.”

“I’m honoured and proud that I was there with Daphne’s family in each step that was taken, starting from the first two hours after she was murdered,” he expressed.

While speaking to journalists outside of the law courts, Daphne’s eldest son, Matthew Caruana Galizia expressed his relief, however, he stated that five years for such an outcome was too long.

“I’m relieved that they’ve been convicted and sentenced, now it’s about the remaining cases,” he said.

Prime Minister Robert Abela issued a statement shortly after, saying that “this is an important step towards justice for a case which is a black spot in the history of our country”.

Opposition leader Bernard Grech also stated that now “we must continue fighting for the whole truth to emerge,” calling for “complete justice”.

“Only if we achieve complete justice can this nation heal from what it passed through after this assassination.”

As for Malta’s green party, the ADPD’s Deputy Chairperson Sandra Gauci emphasized that “five years after Daphne Caruana Galizia’s assassination the situation has not changed much, with justice moving at a snail’s pace”.

“The delayed justice is not surprising though when one considers that it is well known that institutions have been compromised through their close relationship with those in whose interest is that justice is not served,” she expressed.

Civil society group Repubblika, which has been an instrumental contributor to the fight for justice for Daphne in the past years, stressed that “justice will only occur once all implicated suffer the consequences for their actions”.

It concluded by reiterating its call for people to join this Sunday’s protest and vigil, in remembrance of Daphne. 

The march will kick off at 6.30pm in Valletta.

What was your reaction to yesterday’s verdict?