Magistrate felt 'harassed' by Caruana Galizia blog posts
Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera said today that she felt persistently harassed as a result of the contributions made by Daphne Caruana Caruana in her blog.
Giving evidence in court in the case instituted by the police against Ms Caruana Galizia, Magistrate Herrera said the case was even affecting her children and she recently found out that her fifth-form daughter was the only one in class who did not have a photo with her mother on facebook.
Her daughter kept asking her when she could upload pictures, and she replied that she could not. She had also asked her children to remove any facebook pictures in which she was also featured.
Dr Herrera exhibited two decrees where she abstained from cases in court. The cases were Martin Degiorgio vs Daphne Caruana Galizia, and Caruana Galizia vs Kurt Farrugia, then editor of Maltastar. Mag Herrera said she had taken the decisions on her own and the Chief Justice never spoke to her about them.
The magistrate said that after her testimony at the last sitting, Assistant Commissioner Cassar had contacted her to say he was not present at the dinner she had had mentioned. The magistrate said the dinner was not important but she was still under the impression that it was Mr Cassar who was present.
The case continues in May when Ms Caruana Galizia will testify.
11 Comments
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J. Pace
Apr 13th 2010, 16:18
Minn meta l'hawn Facebook sar ta bilfors?
Michael A. Vella
Apr 12th 2010, 20:40
"The magistrate said that after her testimony at the last sitting, Assistant Commissioner Cassar had contacted her to say ..."
Media reports on that incident - including that on The Times - were all in the sense that it was Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera who had called Asst Comm Cassar, and that Asst Comm Cassar had put his phone down on her. Now, which version are we to believe?
Cvella
Apr 12th 2010, 20:01
My previous comment was not uploaded, so perhaps you could upload this one.
Assistant Commissioner Michael Cassar denied being at lunch - not dinner - and sending drinks to the magistrate's table. His formal denial was made through the correct channel i.e. in writing, to the Chief Justice. Assistant Commissioner Michael Cassar did not call Magistrate Scerri Herrera as he knew that would be wrong. These facts were reported in the press.
S. Vella
Apr 12th 2010, 16:44
So who's telling the truth - Magistrate Scerri Herrera or Assistant Commissioner Cassar? Whatever the answer, it will erode further more my faith in either the judiciary or the police.
JOe VELLa
Apr 12th 2010, 16:32
Pajjizz tal-Mickey Mouse
J oatmon
Apr 12th 2010, 15:22
So the Assistant Commissioner Cassar, and Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera have different stories over who was present at some dinner. Obviously one of the two, is 'mistaken' and important people such as these, need to choose their words carfully, so as not to impy something which is untrue.
No wonder the Malta court system is not respected, the whole thing seems to be run on an ad hoc basis, with few rules (or unknown/un-enforced rules) and this leaves plenty of room for different interpretations of the same thing. It seems to me that it is up to a magistrate to decide right or wrong, on a whim - not by strict guidlines - as it should be.
E Gatt
Apr 12th 2010, 15:15
The reason why Dr Consuelo Scerri Herrera cannot publish her photos on Facebook is because the courts decided that the judiciary should not be allowed to use Facebook. The reasons why they should not use Facebook should be obvious to people in such positions.
Daphne Caruana Galizia had the courage to highlight the dangers of the artificial familiarity caused by Facebook especially by people who hold important positions in the judiciary. If Daphne Caruana Galizia’s arguments triggered off the Facebook ban for the Judiciary, then those who wish to see the judiciary’s reputation restored should be grateful to her.
Magistrate Scerri Herrera’s daughter should realise that her mother’s position in the Courts brings along certain trappings that she must accept. Dr Gavin Gulia recently explained the nature of such trappings when his father was a judge.
Noel Zarb
Apr 12th 2010, 15:03
Dear Ms Herrera, do you want your daughter to be a victim too...there is nothing wrong if she doesnt have a photo with her mum on facebook ajma!!
As an officer of law, I thought you would be willing to safeguard your daughter's identity...
amifsud
Apr 12th 2010, 13:51
"found out that her fifth-form daughter was the only one in class who did not have a photo with her mother on facebook"
Really? This is a disaster. We'd better have a government inquiry into this tragedy.
This whole thing is just like a couple of fifth formers fighting.
André Xuereb
Apr 12th 2010, 13:19
"... and she recently found out that her fifth-form daughter was the only one in class who did not have a photo with her mother on facebook."
Oh dear. Whatsoever can we do to stop the threat posed by Daphne? (Sarcasm off.) Give us a break, will you?!
joseph cachia
Apr 12th 2010, 13:15
will it not be better to solve this carry on waste of public funds for magistrate herrera to reseign
from office.
the MALTESE public in general have no interest in her family and face book, our interest is that
our funds and court time is not wasted in such personal actions.