Karl Stagno Navarra accuses Andrew Borg Cardona of 'hate speech'

Karl Stagno Navarra told court on Thursday he considered a Facebook post by lawyer Andrew Borg Cardona as “hate speech”.

Stagno Navarra appeared to testify in criminal proceedings against Borg Cardona, who is accused of inciting hatred after allegedly posting a comment on Facebook asking: “Can we make euthanasia compulsory for Labour trolls?” The post was published in May 2025.

The man explained that he used the police’s electronic system to express his wish that criminal action be taken against Borg Cardona after reading the post, which he deemed as “hate speech against individuals who support the Labour Party”.

“The post in question was published on a page used by Borg Cardona,” Stagno Navarra said.

“How did you conclude that it was Borg Cardona behind the post?” police inspector Roderick Attard asked, to which the witness replied: “That’s Borg Cardona’s profile, and he never said that he did not publish what is on that page. He is known for his public declarations...”

Defence lawyer Kris Busietta interjected, saying that the witness should only testify on the post which was reported to the police and which constitutes the merits of this case.

The defence also objected to the presence of lawyer Rachel Tua, who appeared for Stagno Navarra, arguing that as a witness, he has no right to be represented, and he was not an injured party in the case.

“How did you feel about the post?” Attard asked, to which Stagno Navarra replied that the post was written at a time when there was a national debate on euthanasia.

“I do not have an opinion on euthanasia. But [Borg Cardona] has a track record on Facebook,” Stagno Navarra said, before the defence objected to his comments.

The court directed the witness to limit his testimony to the post which was reported to the police, to which Stagno Navarra said: “this is not an isolated incident.”

Again, Busietta objected, saying he needs to limit himself to the incident in question.

Stagno Navarra compared the question, as posed by Borg Cardona on his social media, to going back in time in the 1940s, when "a German person would ask if Jews should be gassed”.

Once again, the defence objected to the comments with Busietta remarking, “you like listening to the sound of your own voice”.

Stagno Navarra said that some 3,000 people reacted to the post, after he "drew the public’s attention” to it.

The witness said that he understood “Labour trolls” as any person who supported the Labour Party.

Under cross-examination, Busietta read out the post and asked Stagno Navarra whether he considers himself a Labour troll.

“Ask your client why he called me a troll!” Stagno Navarra hit back, adding: “I am not a troll. I support the Labour Party. Your client defined me as a troll”.

At the end of the sitting, Stagno Navarra’s lawyer presented the medical certificate to justify his absence from the previous sitting.

The case was adjourned until May.

Magistrate Giannella Camilleri Busuttil presided.

Police inspector Roderick Attard prosecuted.

Lawyers Kris Busietta, Jason Azzopardi and Alessandro Farrugia appeared for lawyer Andrew Borg Cardona.

Lawyer Rachel Tua appeared for Stagno Navarra.