Claims breach of rights over judge's testimony

A man facing criminal charges yesterday filed a constitutional application claiming his fundamental human right to a fair hearing had been violated by delays in a member of the judiciary testifying in his case.

Salvatore Grech said his criminal case was being heard by the Magistrates' Court and a witness for the prosecution, Mr Justice Gino Camilleri, had been summoned to testify in these proceedings on January 9.

But although the prosecution had taken more than six months to summon the judge as a witness, no action was taken by the court in this regard.

This constituted a violation of his fundamental human right to a fair hearing within a reasonable time, Grech claimed.

He also claimed that this type of abuse had previously taken place by the administration of the Courts, by the board presided over by Mr Justice Camilleri, by the Court of Appeal presided over by Chief Justice Joseph Said Pullicino, Mr Justice Albert Manché, Mr Justice Joseph Filletti, and others.

Grech, who signed and filed his own constitutional application, requested the Civil Court to declare that the Magistrates' Court had violated his right to a fair hearing, and to provide him with a remedy.