Lawyer loses libel suit

Mr Justice Philip Sciberras, sitting in the First Hall of the Civil Court, yesterday dismissed a libel suit filed by lawyer Tonio Azzopardi against In-Nazzjon.

Dr Azzopardi claimed he had been libelled by an article entitled Avukat jitlob Lm10,000 (Lawyer charges Lm10,000 fee) published on June 21, 1995. He had asked the court to condemn Karl Stagno Navarra, Joe Zahra and Paul Spiteri, the author of the article and the newspaper's editor and printer, to pay him libel damages.

The court heard that the article in question was a law report. The article stated that a certain Olaf Cini had explained to the court that Dr Azzopardi had asked for payment of Lm10,000 in order to represent Mr Cini and defend his case. Mr Cini had told the court that up until the sitting, Dr Azzopardi had received Lm3,200 and before the case was heard Dr Azzopardi had asked for payment of a further sum of Lm6,000, otherwise he would not appear for Mr Cini.

Mr Justice Sciberras said he was satisfied that the article reflected the explanation given by Mr Cini in the course of criminal proceedings against him. This was confirmed by other journalists present in the courtroom and by a police inspector.

The court added that the publication without malice of a fair and accurate report of the proceedings before a court was privileged and no action for libel damages could be taken on such a report.

The court dismissed Dr Azzopardi's case.