The family of slain journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia have officially stepped in to take over the several pending libel cases filed against her by high level government officials.

The libel cases include that instituted by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat over allegations that his wife is the UBO of a Panama offshore company and has received €1 million through it, and cases instituted by Tourism Minister Konrad Mizzi and the PM’s chief of staff Keith Schembri.

Other cases relate to the now infamous FKK Acapulco brothel in Germany, where Caruana Galizia had alleged the establishment was visited by Economy Minister Chris Cardona and his aid Joe Gerada while they were on a state visit.

Caruana Galizia was murdered by a car bomb just metres away from her Bidnija residence on 16 October 2017. Her husband, Peter Caruana Galizia, is now taking over 37 libel suits involving his late wife.

This morning he appeared before Magistrate Francesco Depasquale where the court addressed the cases in “batches”, according to the legal issue and the merits of each one. This was done because many-a-time a group of libel suits were instituted on the basis of a single article where various people are named.

Most cases continue in March.

Peter Caruana Galizia is being assisted by lawyer Joseph Zammit Maempel.

Many of the libel cases instituted by high ranking government officials are being assisted by lawyer Pawlu Lia.