Columnist Daphne Caruana Galizia had called Labour Party deputy leader Toni Abela a clown because he had gone on television, peered into a female puppet’s breast and called the puppet shuna (horny), she told a court today.

Testifying in a libel case against her by Dr Abela for the article Ajma x'biza, an earthquake warning, hej, published on August 12, 2008, in which she had described Dr Abela, Anglu Farrugia and Jason Micallef as “clowns, idiots and incompetents”, Ms Caruana Galizia said she did not know what the problem was or what Dr Abela took offense to because she had expressed an opinion as she was entitled to in a democratic society.

This was what was done in other countries, she said adding that the problem with politicians in Malta was that they took themselves too seriously.

Ms Caruana Galizia told the court that it could take her two years to prove to the court just how incompetent Dr Abela was.

She said that a clown, in English, did not mean the bog standard red hair and big red nose but stupid behaviour.

“I think it is inappropriate for a leader of a major political party to o on television and call a female puppet shuna…,” she said. Such comments were offensive to women. Ms Caruana Galizia said.

In cross examination, Dr Abela asked Ms Caruana Galizia when did he personally ever offend her.

She replied that he was part of a whole swamp of people and a system that regularly offended her.

He insisted that he did not ever offend her.

The case continues.