Last month they filed proceedings arguing that Muscat’s pardon breached their right to a fair hearing because the pardon was granted by the Cabinet to a person it’s ministers had an interest in protecting. 

The case kicked off today, with the court being told that the witnesses being requested included Muscat, as well as lead investigator Keith Arnaud, a representative from the Office of the President which technically grants pardons, as well as the chairman of the Caruana Galizia public inquiry board.  

Arnaud and Muscat would be the main witnesses in the case, the court was told. 

In their application, they argued that some members of Cabinet, including those who might be under investigation, ensured that Muscat, and not others, received a pardon, to ensure that certain facts about the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia remained hidden. 

They also noted that Arnaud had told the court that the police had not moved against Agius and Vella before because of a lack of evidence to prosecute them and that the public inquiry had found the cabinet to be indirectly responsible for the journalist’s assassination. 

A request by the Caruana Galizia family lawyers to be included in the case was granted by Magistrate Robert Mangion. 

The case is expected to resume in January.

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