Robert Aquilina says he gets physically threatened while walking in public

In a statement issued last Wednesday, Aquilina identified the alleged perpetrator as Joseph Abela, brother of former judge Toni Abela and father of a police inspector, adding that this information has been verified by police.

On Saturday, Aquilina was challenged by Azzopardi who noted that everyone has a right to express themselves.

Aquilina reminded that following Daphne Caruana Galizia’s murder, Home Affairs Minister Glenn Bedingfield had defended his caricatures portraying the journalist as satire, although the public inquiry into her death did not agree with him. Bedingfield later apologised for his comments and blog posts on the slain journalist.

Aquilina further reminded that the inquiry found that Caruana Galizia’s killers felt comfortable killing her because they believed they wouldn’t get caught. Here he spoke of his own experience with violence against him.

“I’ve had episodes where strangers see me in the street and assault me because they’re government supporters. They make fists and come to me violently.”

Earlier in his programme, Azzopardi spoke to Standards Commissioner for the Judiciary, Toni Abela about Aquilina’s claims on his brother.

Abela said that “freedom of speech is dear to me,” but noted that even that has its limits, “because you have responsibilities.”

The former judge added however, that he couldn’t understand why he had to be dragged into the story involving his brother.

Expanding on freedom of speech, Abela stressed that this right implores individuals to respect the truth and not make up lies and half-truths.