Magistrate Anthony Vella this morning rapped legal aid lawyers noting that a number of them were not available when the court needed them.

The Magistrate was speaking during the hearing of a case in which Emanuel Degabriele, 19, of Cospicua, pleaded not guilty to participating in sexual activities with two 14-year-old girls. He was also accused of breaching the conditions of a previous release.

Mr Degabiele was remanded in custody after the Magistrate saw no sufficient guarantees for him to be granted bail.

The Magistrate said that the unavailability of legal aid lawyers was a serious shortcoming through which Mr Degabriele was being denied his right to legal aid. This situation was happening very often and it was unacceptable and intolerable, he said. He ruled this was in contempt of court.

The Magistrate also ordered this communication to be sent to the Permanent Secretary at the Justice Ministry.

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