Lawyers representing former judge Ray Pace, who was found dead at his home two weeks ago, yesterday complained about the fact that the court order to freeze his assets could not be lifted until his death certificate was presented in court.

Lawyers Stefano Filletti and Joe Mifsud said procedure dictated that for the case to be extinguished, the death certificate had to be presented, but they could not wait indefinitely.

They were not blaming the magistrate personally, they said, but bureaucracy.

Magistrate Neville Camilleri said nothing could be done by law until such time as the certificate was issued and presented in court.

The acts of the proceedings were sent back to the Attorney General as is standard procedure and the case was appointed for June 24.

Dr Pace had been charged with accepting bribes, conspiring to commit a crime and trading in influence.