The lawyer defending MV LifeLine captain Claus-Peter Reisch has been warned by a magistrate not to hold any more press conferences on the courthouse steps.

Lawyer Cedric Mifsud would regularly address the media after most sittings in the case against Reisch who is charged with ship registration irregularities.

But this morning, before the sitting began, magistrate Joe Mifsud warned the lawyer not to talk to the press. “If there’s someone in favour of freedom of expression it’s me, but we must be fair and let the courts decide…it’s not fair to the people to give a certain impression when processes are underway.” Cases are to be decided in the courtroom, not in the press, said the magistrate.

Magistrate Mifsud protested at the fact that the defence had filed an application just an hour before the sitting, asking that the court order the prosecution to close its evidence.

Meanwhile, the case itself remains stalled as the Attorney General’s office waits for replied to rogatory letters sent to the Dutch authorities.

“It is a Dutch problem that the papers didn’t arrive,” the court clarified, explaining that the system had changed and the Dutch authorities didn’t want rogatory letters, but had asked to use a different procedure. “… I encourage the Dutch authorities to work quickly. It’s not the AG’s fault, it’s a bureaucratic issue,” added the magistrate.

“Let me be clear, I’m not going to wait for eternity. I have a date in mind and I will stick to it,“ said magistrate Mifsud. He had spoken to a number of lawyers from the office of the Attorney General, including deputy Attorney General Philip Galea Farrugia and said he was convinced that they were making every effort to resolve the issue.

The case continues on November 19.