Columnist Daphne Caruana Galizia was this morning fined €50 for not turning up in court even though she was notified to do so.

Ms Caruana Galizia had been asked to go to court for the case instituted against her by the police for allegedly defaming Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera.

Defence lawyer Roberto Montalto had filed an application for the sitting to be postponed, mistakenly citing the sitting date as Friday, instead of Thursday.

The case has been put off to September.

Ms Caruana Galizia is pleading not guilty to defaming the magistrate in violation of the Press Act and harassing her.

If found guilty, she faces up to a year in prison and a fine.

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