Mr Justice Aaron Bugeja, who was responsible for the Egrant inquiry, was drawn by lot to preside over the trial of the three men accused of murdering journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. 

The Attorney General filed a bill of indictment formally charging Vincent Muscat and Degiorgio brothers Alfred and George with the 16 October 2017 murder.

They had been arrested in December 2017 and have spent the past 19 months in custody as the compilation of evidence took place.

No date has been set for the trial.

Police investigations are continuing, amid suspicions that the three were not the actual masterminds of the crime.

According to Maltese law, suspects must be served with a bill of indictment within 20 months of facing charges or else be eligible for bail. The bill of indictment was issued after 19 months.

Mr Justice Bugeja, who was promoted from magistrate to judge in April, had found no evidence supporting the claim that a company opened in Panama by the name of Egrant was owned by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat's wife, Michelle.