I refer to Zelda Zerafa’s letter ‘No emotions allowed in court of law’ (July 27).

The writer was in turn reacting to a report carried in the Times of Malta on July 21.

I happened to have been present in court at the time, in connection with another criminal case heard immediately afterwards, and was therefore witness to the events.

While it is very true that the victim’s brother let himself be carried away by his emotions, and attempted a violent physical assault on the person who had just been sentenced, contrary to what was reported in the press the presiding judge, Antonio Mizzi, did not actually get to address this person directly as he had himself already left or been removed from the hall.

Instead Mr Justice Mizzi very calmly and politely addressed the person who had laudably restrained him, and asked him to convey the proposition to the brother concerned that he proceed to light a candle in thanksgiving for not having himself joined the convicted person on a 30-day spell in the same prison in recompense for his outrageous behaviour.

Mr Justice Mizzi actually handled the very tense and potentially grave situation whichsuddenly erupted in his courtroom most serenely, and even more humanely.

He did in particular expressly and openly state that he well understood the underlying emotions at play, but that was no excuse for behaving in a completely uncivilised manner and in contempt of court.

Otherwise one might just as well forget about the courts and mete out vigilante justice in the streets, or words to that effect.

However in the circumstances he openly stated that the court had chosen to turn a blind eye and not to have seen anything of what had just been played out.

More accurate reporting would have avoided the completely unjust criticism which was laid at the judge’s door, when the very opposite was actually called for.