A man convicted of murdering a Maltese journalist has filed a judicial protest against the island’s Prime Minister after he publicly criticised a prison decision to allow him out to attend a family gathering.

George ‘iċ-Ċiniż’ Degiorgio, who has pleaded guilty to being involved in the  2017 assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia, has taken umbrage at Prime Minister Robert Abela criticising the decision to allow Degiorgio out to attend the baptism of his granddaughter, the daughter of his son.

He has now filed a judicial protest in court, Net News reported.

Abela made the comments on Sunday at a party event in Għaxaq, saying the decision to let Degiorgio out of prison was “insensitive towards society, to the victim’s family, and a decision that sends a bad message”.

Degiorgio is claiming that Abela’s comments prejudice his three other ongoing court cases, with potential jurors potentially being influenced by Abela’s comments. He also said that it would be unfair on him to not be granted ‘prison leave’ as other prisoners have been allowed in previous cases.

He called for Abela to retract his comments, warning he will need to take “ulterior action” otherwise.

He also noted that three judges had approved his prison leave, and that he had gone through the proper channels to have his leave approved.

Degiorgio has been sentenced to 40 years in prison over his involvement in the Caruana Galizia murder.