A court case where blogger Daphne Caruana Galizia is being sued for defamation was put off today following angry exchanges between the accused, a witness and lawyers.

Ms Caruana Galizia was sued by Maria Vassallo, whose husband runs the Labour Party club in Rabat.

Magistrate Francesco Depasquele in an angry outburst stopped the case mid-way through the cross examination of Ms Caruana Galizia, saying he would not tolerate the sort of shenanigans which were only good for television and certainly not for a court.

The Magistrate's action came after Ms Caruana Galizia called lawyer Chris Cilia rude (pastas) for repeatedly questioning her regarding photos of Ms Vassallo posted on Ms Caruana Galizia's blog.

Earlier, Ms Caruana Galizia said Ms Vassallo was not a completely private person as she was involved in the running of the Labour Party club in an electoral campaign. Ms Caruana Galizia said that Maria Vassallo and her husband were big exhibitionists and Ms Vassallo had uploaded on facebook pictures of herself in sado-masochistic outfits and half naked.The pictures uploaded on the blog had earlier been posted on facebook and were public.

Dr Cilia said Ms Caruana Galizia had actually started posts about Ms Vassallo before the campaign. He repeatedly asked if that was true or not, and Ms Caruana Galizia replied: 'Let be explain...' The lawyer said "I want a yes or no answer" and she replied "Kemm int, pastas". 

The lawyer asked for protection from the court, and defence lawyer Joe Zammit Maempel said that if there was anyone who needed protection, it was Caruana Galizia, not him.

At that point the Magistrate said he would not tolerate such shenanigans and he expected better from certain lawyers.

Separately, a court this morning also heard evidence in a case where Ms Caruana Galia claimed she was harassed by Zurrieq Mayor Ignatious Farrugia, Ms Vassallo and her daughter Kim.

In her testimony, Ms Vassallo said she had seen Ms Caruana Galizia walking during the St Joseph feast in Rabat and went up to her to complain about what had been written about her and her daughter. She told her to stop writing rubbish about her and her family. Ms Caruana Galizia ignored her.

Replying to questions, the witness said she had been waving her hand as part of the argument and not because she intended to hit Caruana Galizia.

Asked what she was offended about, Ms Vassallo said Caruana Galizia had even written about her daughter's breasts and tattoos.

The case was put off for judgement.