A European Court of Human Rights landmark judgement, which found that The Times right to freedom of expression was violated when the courts found it guilty of defamation after dismissing the evidence of a key witness, has been welcomed by the Institute of Maltese Journalists (IĠM).

A lawyer had institute libel proceedings against the paper's editor and publisher after it had reported that the lawyer had been found guilty of contempt of court during the hearing of a bigamy case way back in 1995.

The institute hailed the decision as a victory, not only for The Times, but also for journalism in Malta.

"It is a victory for all those who have freedom of expression at heart and for those who, like the IĠM, have fought and will continue to fight for the protection of freedom of expression," the IĠM said.

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