Lowell’s rant against magistrate ‘unacceptable, intolerable’

The Chamber of Advocates denounced statements by far-rightist Norman Lowell who yesterday questioned the integrity and independence of Magistrate Francesco Depasquale, after losing his defamation claim against MaltaToday earlier this month.

On 19 October, Lowell wrote on his online forum Vivamalta.net that he would appeal the judgement in the hope of finding “one, just one single Judge with some moral fibre. A judge who is not cowed by Political Correctness, does not ingratiate himself with the present Govt.”

Pressed on his accusations and the verbal attack launched against the same magistrate, Lowell said Depasquale “brought this on himself… he brought this on himself and he got it.”

The chamber’s vice-president Vincent Galea said that whilst everyone had the right to criticise a judgement, such criticism must be fair and constructive.

“If one does not agree with a particular judgement, there is always a right of appeal. From the report published, and the uploaded video, this was not the case here,” the Chamber said.

“Personal criticism to Magistrates or Judges in relation to the handing out of judgements is unacceptable and intolerable.”

In an online rant, Lowell said Depasquale was “screwed from birth”.

Lowell filed his appeal and addressed a press conference in Valletta where he said that the court decision was “atrocious” and described Depasquale’s verdict as a “veiled threat to freedom of expression.”
“We hope to find a judge with a sliver of moral fibre,” Lowell said of the forthcoming court hearings.

Lowell lost the defamation suit he filed in 2006 against managing editor Saviour Balzan and journalist Matthew Vella over a series of reports on the aftermath of an arson attack on the house of Malta Independent columnist Daphne Caruana Galizia.