The libel cases filed by Konrad Mizzi and his former aide Lindsey Gambin against Daphne Caruana Galizia will continue later this year after the parties failed to reach a settlement.

Mizzi and Gambin had sued the journalist for libel in 2014 after Caruana Galizia claimed that the two were having an extra-marital affair. She had written that “this was the reason for which Mizzi’s wife had left for China.

In November, it was reported that Caruana Galizia’s heirs and the plaintiffs were trying to reach an out of court settlement.

But when the case was called on Monday morning, lawyer Edward Gatt, appearing for Mizzi, said the parties had not succeeded in reaching an out of court settlement.

The court, presided over by Magistrate Victor Axiaq, adjourned the case to 14 March, during which sitting the defendant’s evidence is to be heard.

Lawyer Joe Zammit Maempel is appearing for the Caruana Galizia family.