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Prime Minister Responds To Stalling Concerns As Magistrate Investigating Caruana Galizia Murder Wins Promotion

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Prime Minister Joseph Muscat dismissed concerns about the promotion of Anthony Vella (right)

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat has brushed off concerns that the promotion of the magistrate investigating the murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia will stall the case.

Anthony Vella was today promoted to judge, ignoring warnings from former Opposition leader Simon Busuttil and a group of MEPs investigating Malta’s rule of law that doing so will delay the murder investigation.

Muscat dismissed such concerns, arguing that Vella was a senior magistrate and therefore “next in line” for a promotion to judge and that Neville Camilleri, the magistrate chosen to replace him, is up for the task.

“No matter who would have been chosen, all magistrates are handling delicate cases nowadays,” he said. “I have no doubt that the Chief Justice communicated with [Vella] as he felt he had to and that there is no shadow of doubt over the integrity of the magistrate [Neville Camilleri] chosen to replace him in the murder inquiry.”

Muscat also brushed off warnings from Labour MP Robert Abela that Vella had met up in private with Opposition MP Jason Azzopardi, who is lawyer in parte civile for the Caruana Galizia family.

“There are ways and means to ascertain these claims according to the rule of law, but the government has shown it has faith in Vella,” he said.

Apart from Vella, magistrates Consuelo Scerri Herrera and Grazio Mercieca were also promoted to judges today, while lawyers Rachel Montebello, Simone Grech and Astrid May Grima were appointed as magistrates. As a result of these appointments, Malta’s judiciary is composed of more women than men for the first time in history.

READ NEXT: UPDATE (3): Magistrate Recuses Herself From Caruana Galizia Murder Trial

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Tim is interested in the rapid evolution of human society and is passionate about justice, human rights and cutting-edge political debates. You can follow him on Instagram or Twitter/X at @timdiacono or reach out to him at [email protected]

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