False alarm after magistrate’s car is inspected by bomb disposal unit

According to the police, the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit were called to investigate two cars in Siggiewi and St Julian’s

(File Photo)
(File Photo)

The Explosive Ordnance Dispoal Unit this evening carried out inspections on two vehicles – one in Siggiewi and a second in St Julian’s – in both cases finding nothing suspicious, according to a statement released tonight by the police communications unit.

“Today, the police together with members of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit inspected two cars, one in Siggiewi and another in St Julian’s. Nothing suspicious resulted from the two inspections,” said the police a brief statement.

It appears that one of the cars in question, the one inspected in Siggiewi, belongs to magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera, or one of her family members. Opposition leader Adrian Delia also lives in the same street. 

Scerri Herrera was the duty magistrate who was on call last Monday when Daphne Caruana Galizia was murdered using a car bomb. She recused herself the following day after the family filed a court application requesting that she do so.

The family argued that given the fact that Scerri Herrera was on a number of occasions the subject of political and professional criticism by Caruana Galizia.

"The applicants have no trust in Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera, and do not believe that she can conduct a magisterial inquiry through the seriousness and impartiality that is needed in the search for truth behind the brutal murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia."

In her ruling, Scerri Herrera said that she had reached the conclusion that in view of the circumstances, it would be better for another magistrate to take over the inquiry.

Magistrate Anthony Vella has been appointed by the Chief Justice instead.