Caruana Galizia explains her actions in Charlon Gouder libel case
Columnist Daphne Caruana Galizia testified in court today that she found it strange and stupid that One TV had opted to carry comments she had made into their microphone only for their reporter to then sue for libel.
She was testifying in proceedings for criminal libel instituted by the police at the request of One journalist Charlon Gouder.
She explained that on March 2, after she had attended court proceedings instituted by Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera, she had walked out of the court house with members of her family and had been harassed by a One TV cameraman, who followed them for half an hour as they walked down Sta Lucia and then back up to Republic Street.
She said that Jason Micallef, who heads One TV, had been 'lying' when he said in court in previous testimony that he was present during the incident, because he was not. She also found it strange that the former General Secretary of the Labour Party had claimed he had not known she was a journalist.
Amid the harassment, Ms Caruana Galizia said, she had spotted Charlon Gouder and walked towards him, intending to ask him about a reported case of his wallet having been stolen by a woman.
Mr Gouder moved away and therefore she turned to the camera and asked where Charlon Gouder had gone and whether he had gone with a prostitute, in view of a feature which had appeared on YouTube.
She had done so, Ms Caruana Galizia said, in order to stop the harassment and spoil the One footage.
She said the One cameraman had even lowered a boom microphone, which was, in itself a form of harassment and an invasion of her privacy since it could pick up her conversation with her lawyer.
Ms Caruana Galizia said it was strange and stupid that One had opted to air that footage. In so doing, they had libelled themselves, she said.
One TV, she said, had a problem with her because the One journalists were not really journalists, but part of a propaganda machine.
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23 Comments
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Ms Isabelle Luca Borg
May 24th 2011, 17:20
min mindu rabba r-raggiera Charlon Gouder?!
Mr Charles.C. Brown
May 24th 2011, 21:56
Oy no need to be like this towards Charlon Gouder hes a gentleman above all gentilemen!!!
Ms D Galea
May 24th 2011, 15:44
How fortuitous for certain sectors of the gutter press to be around at exactly the right time to record for posterity the goings-on of their elders and betters and then put them on U-Tube.
As Vittorio Sgarbi would have commented; CAPRE!
Mr Emmanuel Bonnici
May 24th 2011, 14:20
Personally, I find her comments especially the ones aimed to the Labour's way, being more spiteful than accusing. Her columns are some of the best I believe, however they end up being somehow malignant.
Can't she write in a more enjoyable way, with a subtle sense of humour like Claire Bonello for example? Why does she have to constantly injure ones feelings if she disagrees?
I cannot understand her annoyance of being followed by a journalist belonging to that party who in her opinion can never get it right!
No one will turn the other cheek to be slapped twice! If you're out there to battle, be ready for the counter attacks!
Joe Fenech
May 24th 2011, 09:47
"One TV, she said, had a problem with her because the One journalists were not really journalists, but part of a propaganda machine."
Piers Morgan has just spoken!
Pity that Le Monde and The Times don't know about you!
Joe Fenech
May 24th 2011, 09:43
People who are impulsive and agressive need therapy.
Mr Victor Laiviera
May 24th 2011, 08:24
"Columnist Daphne Caruana Galizia testified in court today that she found it strange and stupid that One TV had opted to carry comments she had made into their microphone only for their reporter to then sue for libel."
Do she really expect ONE TV to censor her remarks to save her from being sued? Why on earth should they?
The alleged crime took place when she said the words, not when they were broadcast. The recording is just a proof that the words were said.
Mr Paul Abela
May 23rd 2011, 19:42
Mr.Albert Dimech, it is true that 'She has just been ordered to pay €900 to Dr Anglu Farrugia' but what about the Court's Sentence that said that part of her accusations she had against Dr.Anglu Farrugia were true facts. And he is Deputy Leader of PL. Please read everything.
Mr Joseph Brincat
May 24th 2011, 08:20
Really?
(jb)
Mr Joseph Cauchi Senior
May 23rd 2011, 18:33
Many do admire Daphne Caruana Galizia for her courageous contributions and excellent pen; and consider her also as the "Iron Lady of Malta of Journalism"!
JC.
Mr Albert Dimech
May 23rd 2011, 16:32
She has just been ordered to pay €900 to Dr Anglu Farrugia, she might as well prepare another cheque for Mr Gouder.
How frustrating it must be to be financing the PL like that. So much so for 'propaganda' journalists.
Mr A Spiteri
May 23rd 2011, 14:42
what a waste of time of precious limited resources!
Mr W Cassar
May 23rd 2011, 14:21
One TV, she said, had a problem with her because the One journalists were not really journalists, but part of a propaganda machine.
LOL @ Galizia ....Why are you?
Mr M Debono
May 23rd 2011, 14:59
If you had ever bothered readin her writings you would realise that she hurls criticism at both sides of the aisle. Granted she can be crass at times but it does not justify your comment.
Mr Alfred Dimech
May 23rd 2011, 15:23
While Miss Caruana Galizia sometimes does go too far with her insults, it is worth saying that she is not a propaganda machine. She has no qualms criticising the Nationalist party's policies when the need arises.
One recent case in point was the divorce issue.
Charles J. Buttigieg
May 23rd 2011, 19:27
Daphnie Caruana Galizia criticizes the PN only to impress and tries to give the impression that she's a free thinker. Anybody believing that would believe anything.
Mr P Bonnici
May 23rd 2011, 22:58
She also criticized the PN's stance on the Libyan crisis. She even joined Libyan protesters in Valletta, not many politicians did.
I admire the lady!
Peter Cassar
May 24th 2011, 01:29
While Daphne may sometimes, on occasion criticize some PN policy she clearly doesn't use the same rhetoric when talking about PL members and PN members, which in itself isn't a bad thing.The only bad thing is that she tries to give the impression that she is in the centre.Anyone who denies she's furthur to the right is tone deaf(or blind and can't read her blog).Also she pays very clear attention to say unflattering loaded statements about PL in stories that she knows will get more hits than others.
Peter Cassar
May 24th 2011, 01:30
What we would call a by-product of freedom of speech
Mr Tim Ripard
May 24th 2011, 07:59
@ Charles J. Buttigieg. DCG is the MESSIAH of free thinking. She's far and away the best and most professional writer Malta has. Her research, analysis and interpretation of the facts are second to none and she does it all on her brilliant blog for free. She's not afraid to criticise anyone or anything in the world, including the catholic church and the PN. The fact that she is so critical of your beloved Labour Party stems simply from the fact that it is the most deserving of criticism. Any unbiased person can see that it's not fit for purpose. Same goes for the church, the failings of which she points out regularly, just as she has made a huge case for showing how sad and impractical the PN thinking on divorce is and how bad this thinking is for the entire country. If you can't see her transparently free thinking in all of this, well, what can I say, maybe you're biased?
Joe Fenech
May 24th 2011, 10:06
Hasbitna kollha illiterati u ma naqrawx gazzetti Inglizi, Taljani, Francizi u Germanizi!
Mr Victor Laiviera
May 24th 2011, 10:17
@Mr Tim Ripard
Be careful where you put the candles and the incense sticks. The whole thing might catch fire.
PS: I just LOVED the "for free" bit.
Charlie Borg
May 26th 2011, 06:54
@ Mr Tim Ripard: DCG is the finest example of how journalism should NOT be. It is the worst time of petty, scandalous dirt, not journalism. Be careful because when you praise her and her writings in that manner, I will start thinking that you are very much like her in character.