Rosianne Cutajar told a court on Wednesday that any chance of reaching a settlement in a libel case she filed against Mark Camilleri has been quashed by the latter’s “constant insults.”

The former Parliamentary Secretary had sued Camilleri after he wrote that she had been in a relationship with 17 Black owner Yorgen Fenech and that she had received money from him for defending him from corruption. The author and former chairman of the National Book Council had also written that Cutajar had “committed a serious crime that could put her in prison.”

When the case was called on Wednesday morning, lawyer Edward Gatt said there was no change of an amicable solution given Camilleri’s “constant challenging” of his client.

He said Camilleri was constantly tweeting about Cutajar and insulting her.

Cutajar was present in the courtroom. The case is being heard before Magistrate Rachel Montebello. The court noted that, while Camilleri had been notified on 15 January and had filed a reply in the acts, he did not attend Wednesday’s sitting.

In his written submissions, Camilleri argued that his comments were not defamatory, had caused no damage to Cutajar, were substantially true and represented his honest opinion.

The magistrate then asked whether there was any change of reconciliation, but Cutajar’s lawyer said this was not possible in view of Camilleri’s continued insults.

Camilleri’s lawyer Joseph Mizzi interjected, saying his client also has a right to speak.

The court, seeing that an amicable solution was not possible, said it would start to hear evidence in the next sitting, which will be held in March. Cutajar will be called to testify.

Camilleri is being assisted by lawyers Joseph Mizzi and Timothy Spiteri.