At about 12.30pm, Dr Bezzina and his client, Jesmond Camilleri got stuck in a lift on their way down from the Family Court, which is on the third floor.

In the protest, Dr Bezzina explained that the lift was very cramped and had no light or air. The alarm bell was not working and no one was on standby to give any immediate assistance.

The lawyer started shouting for help and luckily managed to get through to his office clerk through a mobile phone call, who then called for help. “The event could have had disastrous and catastrophic consequences,” said Dr Bezzina, since someone caught in the lift could have had a seizure or a panic attack.

This is not the first time this particular lift stopped, the protest continued, and this shows negligence and a severe lack of proper maintenance. Dr Bezzina said they had to wait for half an hour in the claustrophobic lift until assistance arrived.

The protest said a report should be drawn up on the serious malfunction of the lift and the Courts of Justice should take all the necessary precautions to safeguard the health of Maltese citizens.

Dr Bezzina continued by saying the malfunction of these lifts causes a great inconvenience that is a health and psychological hazard. The protest, that was filed against the courts director and administrator, the prime minister, the justice minister and parliamentary secretary and the attorney general is holding all these people responsible for any damages suffered due to this incident.

It said that whoever is responsible for these malfunctioning lifts should resign symbolically because had the lifts been well-maintained, this could have been easily avoided.