A 66-year-old man by the name of Emmanuel Navarro was denied bail after causing a stir online, when he said that Nationalist Party MEP Roberta Metsola should be "burned alive".

The pensioner pleaded not guilty this morning before presiding magistrate Donatella Frendo Dimech. He was charged with inciting hatred on political grounds, misuse of electronic communications equipment, insulting and threatening Metsola in writing under the criminal code and the press act.

Navarro's social media commentary was shared multiple times by PN MPs on Facebook, where the accused called Metsola a "traitor", adding that she should be burnt alive.

Many people have been harshly criticizing PN MEPs because of the way they spoke about Malta and the government during a rule of law debate at the European Parliament.

The debate was held after journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia was brutally murdered on 16 October, prompting the EP to discuss the rule of law in Malta.

Following Navarro's remarks, the PN issued a statement to condemn the hate speech espoused and expressed solidarity with MEP.

Prosecuting inspector Elton Taliana objected to the defence's request for bail on the grounds that the threat was a serious one.

Navarro's lawyer, Peter Paul Zammit remarked that it was a sad day for Malta when a 66-year-old is arraigned for a Facebook threat. Frendo Dimech promptly replied that more than sad, it is a horrendous day when somebody decides to write something to that effect on a public forum. A protection order in favour of Metsola has been issued. 

Lawyers Jason Azzopardi and Karol Aquilina appeared parte civile.