Former judge Ray Pace was discovered dead in his Attard home yesterday morning. He was 54.

According to sources, his body was discovered by a family member. No suspicious circumstances surround his death. He was married and had two teenage children.

Dr Pace stepped down from the Bench last December after he was charged with bribery and trading in influence.

He denied the charges and the case has not yet been concluded.

The resignation brought the curtain down on a 14-year judicial career which saw Dr Pace sit on the civil, criminal appeals and Constitutional courts. He was the first judge to be assigned family court cases and also lectured on human rights at the University of Malta.

Justice Parliamentary Secretary Owen Bonnici offered his condolences to Dr Pace’s family.

“This tragic affair just goes to show how delicate and sensitive a matter justice is – in this case a matter of life or death. My thoughts right now are with his family,” Dr Bonnici said.