As Mr Justice Joseph Galea Debono presided over his last trial by jury yesterday, he was surprised and emotional as members of the judiciary, lawyers and family members walked in the courtroom to bid him farewell.

Mr Justice Galea Debono, who turns 65 next month, presided over his last trial by jury yesterday, sentencing “serial killer” Salvatore sive Silvio Mangion to life imprisonment.

In a speech to mark the judge’s farewell, lawyer Edward Gatt, the vice-president of the Chamber of Advocates, spoke about the Mr Justice Galea Debono’s efficiency, describing it as “a luxury that lawyers had become accustomed to”.

He referred to Mr Justice Galea Debono’s integrity and diligence and the fact that he managed to go through a number of cases that had been pending for years.

Dr Gatt said defendants had started getting accustomed to cases being decided upon within a relatively short period of time whenever Mr Justice Galea Debono presided over their cases.

Mr Justice Galea Debono was evidently emotional and in a few comments following Dr Gatt’s speech, he said he had done nothing special during the eight years he served as judge, but simply applied the law.