George and Alfred Degiorgio, two men accused of carrying out the murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, are appealing a ruling by a judge against their request to postpone the upcoming murder trial.

The Degiorgios are asking the constitutional court to postpone the trial, saying that the legal aid lawyers assigned to them did not have enough time to prepare their defence.

For the past five years, the Degiorgios had been represented by lawyer William Cuschieri. Cuschieri informed the trial judge last month that he was renouncing his brief. The brothers were subsequently assigned legal aid lawyers, whom they initially refused to cooperate with.

Earlier this week, Madam Justice Audrey Demicoli denied a request by the  Degiorgios' for an interim measure to suspend the upcoming jury. The case was then adjourned by the magistrate to November.

Legal aid lawyer Joseph Bonnici, who is representing the Degiorgio brothers in the constitutional case, has filed an appeal on that ruling, saying that unless the ruling that denied the interim measure is repealed, then the only guarantee is that the fundamental rights of the appellants will be broken.

The Degiorgio brothers argue that they were not given enough time to find lawyers of their own choosing, and were assigned legal aid advocates, which was not their wish. They also claim that possible jurors have been exposed to the case for five years, and that their right to a fair trial could be compromised as a result.

Legal aid lawyer Joseph Bonnici is representing the Degiorgios in the constitutional proceedings.

Lawyers Carina Camilleri Testa and Maurizio Cordina are appearing for the AG and the State Advocate, respectively.

Lawyers Therese Comodini Cachia, Jason Azzopardi and Eve Borg Costanzi are appearing on behalf of the Caruana Galizia family.