A report published in this newspaper stated that the Court of Criminal Appeal in its constitutional jurisdiction turned down an appeal. Allow me to point out that the court referred to in the report does not exist.

The judgement referred to was given by the First Hall of the Civil Court in its constitutional jurisdiction. This is a court of first instance that examines complaints of a constitutional nature raised after ordinary proceedings are concluded. There is the possibility of an appeal against this judgement before the Constitutional Court, the supreme court of Malta.

The ordinary proceedings in the present case consisted in a criminal process before the Criminal Court. An appeal against the judgement had been filed before the Court of Criminal Appeal, which dismissed the grounds contained in the appeal.

Any person aggrieved by the outcome of ordinary proceedings may file constitutional redress proceedings.  When final judgement is delivered by the Constitutional Court there is the possibility of presenting an application before the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.

Dr Tonio Azzopardi LL.D.