A judge has thrown out a recusal application filed by one of the men accused of killing Daphne Caruana Galizia.
Madam Justice Lorraine Schembri Orland rejected the application filed on behalf of Alfred Degiorgio some days ago, which challenged her decision allowing FBI agents to testify in the compilation of evidence against him and his co-accused.
Mr Degiorgio's lawyer, William Cuschieri, had sought to have FBI agents blocked from testifying due to them having worked with court-appointed IT expert Martin Bajada, who Dr Cuschieri has objected to.
That application was dismissed as "vexatious and frivolous" by Madam Justice Schembri Orland, prompting Dr Cuschieri to file another application seeking her recusal and leave to appeal against the decision.
The recusal request was turned down by the judge on Wednesday morning.
Mr Degiorgio is one of three men who stand accused of assassinating journalist and blogger Ms Caruana Galizia using a car bomb last October.