Daphne Caruana Galizia's husband and sons have filed a judicial letter calling on the authorities to hold a public inquiry to determine whether the state is abiding by its obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights.

Lawyers for the family made the call to the prime minister, the attorney general and the justice minister, calling on them to order an inquiry to investigate whether the right to life is being safeguarded by the state.

They said the inquiry needs to focus upon whether the murder of the journalist could have been avoided, whether the State had taken all necessary steps to obviate danger to her life and whether necessary protection had been afforded.

Ms Caruana Galizia was killed by a car bomb as she drove out of her residence on October 16, 2017. Three men have been accused of the murder but they are not believed to have been the masterminds behind the crime. 

The family said the inquiry should also to investigate whether “procedures, processes and administrative structures” had been lacking in this regard and whether these could be strengthened.

The family called upon the authorities to appoint “suitable, independent and impartial” persons to conduct the inquiry, failing which other legal measures would be sought.

Lawyers Jason Azzopardi, Eve Borg Costanzi and Therese Comodini Cachia signed the letter.