Mr Justice Michael Mallia this morning apologised to jurors after furious exchanges continued between lawyers in a trial where two Latin American men are accused of involvement in the trafficking of drugs.

Justice Mallia made the apology in the latest of three days of exchanges which saw former MFA president Joseph Mifsud, one of the defence lawyers, protest loudly after protector Dr Nadine Sant asked whether he had had contact with a prosecution witness, something which he vehemently denied.

Justice Mallia said the behaviour he had seen in the past few days was disgusting and unprecedented in his 24 years of service in the court. He urged the lawyers to control themselves and not to make a mockery of the proceedings.

(The judge made it clear he was not referring to Dr Joe Brincat, the other defence counsel in the case).