Former Prime Minister Joseph Muscat has sued Christian Grima, a lawyer, after he claimed on Facebook that the former Prime Minister “blew up” journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.
Writing on Facebook, Muscat, who resigned under a cloud of disgrace at the end of 2019, said that as a rule he doesn’t really believe in libels, and that he believed in freedom of expression even when it can be offensive, unjust, or, at times, completely incorrect.
“Sometimes however, there is a line which, when crossed, one cannot stand by and do nothing”, Muscat said on Facebook.
He said that Grima had alleged on Facebook that the former Prime Minister had blown up Daphne Caruana Galizia himself.
“As is clear from all the facts, this is totally false. That’s why I have filed libel proceedings against Dr. Grima”, Muscat said.
He said that he can stand for criticism, and even insults, the stretching of facts and even speculation that people come up with.
“Lies like this, however, no”, Muscat said.
Bħala regola ma tantx nemmen fil-libelli. Nemmen fil-liberta' tal-espressjoni anki meta xi waqtiet tkun offensiva,...
Posted by Joseph Muscat on Monday, May 10, 2021
Caruana Galizia was killed in a car bomb in October 2017. Businessman Yorgen Fenech currently stands accused of masterminding the murder, and Muscat stepped down soon after Fenech’s arrest in November 2019.
His former chief of staff Keith Schembri has frequently been named in court proceedings, and was arrested by police back when Fenech was arrested as part of investigations into the case.
Schembri has denied any involvement in the case, and has not been charged in connection with the murder.