Lawyers, politicians and civil society representatives turned up outside the law courts today demanding justice for Journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, who was killed in a horrific car bomb on Monday down the road from her home in Bidnija.

As one enters the courts, one finds a placard on the court steps, left by some of today's protesters which read: "Looks like we can't have freedom of speech, but we want justice."

Lawyer Andrew Borg Cardona said a few words on behalf of all those persons present. "It is our duty to ask the state to defend us. The state did not defend Daphne... The state did nothing. We are part of the state and did nothing as well."

"We are all to blame. We expect everyone to do everything for us. Today we must be the ones to do something."

Borg Cardona said that Daphne Caruana' Galizia's husband is his legal partner, "Yesterday I was asked for comments and I could barely speak, and I feel the tears coming back."

 He pointed to the courts, and said that they are the last pillars as the others have collapsed. "They must defend us."

The crowd then sang the Maltese national anthem. Some members of the public were heard yelling "assassins".

During the protest, an argument broke out as one person seems to complain about the courts taking a tremendous amount of time to get things done, however others present quickly said that this was not the time and place.

PN Leader Adrian Delia was present, as were PN MPs Simon Busuttil, Chris Said, Ryan Callus, Therese Comodini Cachia and Jason Azzopardi. PD MPs Marlene and Godfrey Farrugia were also at the protest, and so was PN local councillor Michael Briguglio.

In comments to this newsroom, Michael Briguglio said shame, anger and shock is what drove him to join the crowd in front of the courts. “I am shocked that a journalist had to be murdered in such a brutal way. For me, this is a political murder, because it clearly has a political context and the state did not protect a journalist who was in danger. I am shocked that the minister responsible for the police hasn’t uttered a word, that he hasn’t resigned, and I am even more shocked that the Prime Minister yesterday did not demand the resignation of the minister responsible for the police.”

There were some people crying in the crowd, while others clapped in memory of Daphne Caruana Galizia.

Videos by Michael Camilleri