Magistrate Antonio Micallef Trigona this afternoon complained at media coverage of the courts "everyone takes a dig at the courts then expects it to protect their rights".

He made the comments during the continuation of the compilation of evidence against Jason Galea and George Galea, who stand accused of killing convicted drug trafficker Mario Camilleri and his 21-year-old son Mario Jr.

The magistrate passed his comments as lawyer Giannella de Marco, appearing for George Galea, complained that the last sitting was six weeks ago and yet no witnesses were brought to testify in today's sitting in spite of there being four police inspectors involved.

The magistrate stopped Dr de Marco abruptly and accused her of trying make arguments in a way that would encourage media reportage.

He started referring to the media making comments about the court but stopped short of saying exactly what had annoyed him.

Looking at reporters from the Times of Malta, The Malta Independent, Maltatoday, l-Orrizont and in-Nazzjon he said "don't look so dumbfounded! You know what I'm referring to".

After calming down, the magistrate told Police Inspector Fabian Fleri, who was the only one of the three who had testified so far, that regardless of how many police inspectors there were, even if they were sick, witnesses had to be brought to testify.

The case was deferred to September 29.