Mosta priest Fr David Muscat was on Thursday cleared of hate speech charges, with the court not finding any malicious intent in his writings on the social media.

Muscat was accused of incitement to hatred or violence over comments made in two Facebook posts about homosexuality. 

In one, the 51-year-old priest spoke about the possibility that Abner Aquilina, who is charged with the murder of Polish student Paulina Dembska, was gay, bisexual or possessed by the devil and said that “gayness” was worse than being possessed. 

In another comment, Muscat said that Aquilina looked like he was just coming back from "gay pride".

Archbishop Charles Scicluna had issued a warning to Fr Muscat, who was instructed to stop making "inflammatory and hurtful comments" or else he could be stopped from exercising his ministry in public.  

In its judgement on Thursday, the court presided by Magistrate Ian Farrugia acquitted Muscat, saying it found no criminal intent.

Lawyers Mariah Mula and Christopher Attard represented Muscat.