Tempers flared this morning as a court heard a number of libel cases still pending against Daphne Caruana Galizia.

Lawyer Pawlu Lia summoned lawyer Peter Caruana Galizia, widower of the murdered journalist, to the witness stand today.

The cases had been filed after Daphne Caruana Galizia alleged that Economy Minister Chris Cardona and consultant Joe Gerada were spotted in a German brothel whilst on an official trip to the country.

Lia asked what Peter Caruana Galizia’s position on the allegations which are central to the lawsuit was. “Are you making them your own?” asked the lawyer. “I am going to continue defending them,” Caruana Galizia replied. “So you are insisting on the allegations?” Lia queried. “Don’t put words in my mouth. I assumed the acts as an heir together with the children. Otherwise I would have filed an admission…I barely remember what they are about,” Peter Caruana Galizia said.

Lia was incensed by this. In a previous sitting the court was first told by Caruana Galizia in Lia’s absence, that Joe Gerada had offered to cede the case, but Lia had disputed this, saying that it was Caruana Galizia who had approached him with the proposal.  “You approached me to speak to the media. You made me look like a liar. I am sorry for you because I know you approached me in a good way but other people turned you,” said the lawyer angrily.

The issue of TAP files proving Gerada and Minister Chris Cardona’s whereabouts on the day of their alleged visit to a German brothel was raised again today, with Lia insisting that the request for the files was a “fishing expedition.”

“There is a lot of jurisprudence that clearly states that when you allege something, you must be able to prove it, not fish for evidence after the fact,” he said.

Lawyer Joseph Zammit Maempel, who is defence counsel in that case, argued that it was scientific evidence that was central to the case must be examined by experts to establish whether or not Caruana Galizia was correct.

There was disagreement on whether the TAP files had been exhibited in all cases or just one. The court said that so far there was one copy in one case and it was yet to decree on the issue. The court is awaiting Lia’s reply to an application by Zammit Maempel requesting the duplication of the files amongst all the libel suits.

The cases continue in May.