Daphne Caruana Galizia's husband and children are seeking the removal of deputy Commissioner Silvio Valletta from the investigation into the journalist’s murder.

The family instituted constitutional proceedings against the Police Commissioner, the Attorney General and Valletta claiming that the involvement of the latter in the murder investigation could breach their right to a fair hearing. 

The family has requested the court to declare that deputy Commissioner Valletta’s role in the investigation impinged upon the objectivity and impartiality necessary in such circumstances.

Deputy Commissioner Valletta, together with his wife Gozo Minister Justyne Caruana, had been targeted by harsh criticism by Caruana Galizia, who was killed by a car bomb last month.

Caruana Galizia had criticised the shortcomings of the FIAU Board after the publication of the Panama Papers. Valletta is an FIAU member.

Valletta played an active part in the press conference delivered by the Police Commissioner three days after the journalist’s murder (photo above).

A murder investigation had to be conducted according to standards and criteria which ensure that it is independent and impartial, the family argued. There could be no objective analysis of evidence unless the persons involved in the investigation are “completely independent from any connection which could cast a shadow” over their objectivity and impartiality.

Valletta could not offer such guarantee as a politically exposed person previously targeted by Caruana Galizia, the applicants argued.

The applicants called upon the First Hall, Civil Court to provide adequate measures to ensure that their fundamental right to a fair hearing was safeguarded.

The application was filed by Jason Azzopardi and Therese Comodini Cachia.