pOn 16 October 2017, Daphne Caruana Galizia, the most formidable Maltese journalist of her time, was murdered by a bomb placed under her car. That bomb tore a hole right through Maltese society and politics. For over thirty years, Daphne took a pen to Maltese society and politics and, wielding it like a razor, shaved as close to the flesh as she possibly could. Her cause was democracy in its fullest sense, Daphne insisted that democracy was not just majority rule, it also comprised minority rights, checks and balances, rule of law, autonomy of the institutions, accountability and good governance. Above all, she upheld freedom of expression as the fundamental instrument through which to scrutinise authorities and hold them to account. For her pains, she was demonised and came under sustained fire for all those thirty years, but not once did she wilt or flinch. Invicta means the unconquered woman for Daphne died with pen in her hand and unyielding to the very end. To pay tribute and to c