The €50 fine imposed on columnist Daphne Caruana Galizia for not appearing in court was revoked after the presiding magistrate realised there had been a mistake in the date of the sitting she had missed, her lawyer, Roberto Montalto, said.

Ms Caruana Galizia is pleading not guilty to defaming Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera and harassing her in a series of blogs in late January. If found guilty, she faces up to a year in prison and a fine.

She was held in contempt of court after failing to attend a sitting last Thursday when Dr Scerri Herrera, her lawyer and the prosecuting officer were present.

Dr Montalto had filed an application in advance asking the sitting to be postponed as he would be abroad. However, in his application, Dr Montalto had given the date of the sitting as Friday rather than Thursday.

It resulted to the court that Ms Caruana Galizia had been notified to appear on Thursday and once she did not show up she was fined.

Dr Montalto said that when he saw the court’s diary the following Monday, the date for the case was given as July 2. There was also a note for the fine to be revoked, he said. When he notified the magistrate, he agreed that Ms Caruana Galizia was not to blame and so revoked the fine.