Newly-appointed judge Aaron Bugeja will be presiding over the trial of the three men charged with murdering journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia in a brutal car bomb.

As a magistrate, Bugeja oversaw the infamous Egrant inquiry which concluded that the Prime Minister’s wife Michelle Muscat was not the owner of the Panamanian account.

Bugeja was selected out of a random draw.

The bill of indictment against Vince Muscat, George Degiorgio and his brother Alfred Degiorgio was only issued yesterday, a few weeks before the compilation of evidence proceedings nearing its 20th month.

It is unclear when the trial will start. However, a jury selection process along with potential legal challenges mean it could more than a year before it begins.

Magistrate Claire Stafrace Zammit declared there was enough prima facie evidence to issue a bill of indictment against the three men on 21 December 2017, less than three weeks after the men had first been charged with the crime.

While the men have been charged with the crime, they have all pleaded not guilty.

A public inquiry into the murder has also been ordered by the Council of Europe.

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