A defendant yesterday attempted to cast doubt over the integrity of a sitting member of the judiciary while testifying in the case involving former judge Ray Pace, who has been charged with accepting a bribe to influence a drug trafficker’s sentence.
Giannella de Marco, Joe Giglio and Steve Tonna Lowell contended that their client, Darren Desira, a drug dealer jailed for 18 years by Mr Justice Lawrence Quintano, was the victim of an improperly devised prison term.
It is alleged that Dr Pace took a bribe with the intention of influencing Mr Justice Quintano to hand a lengthy prison term to Mr Desira.
Dr Pace was allegedly bribed by Raymond Caruana, a 51-year-old truck driver from Żebbuġ, and 40-year-old Mr Psaila, a restaurateur from Valletta, who have been charged in separate proceedings.
Dr de Marco, Dr Giglio and Dr Tonna Lowell crossed swords with lawyer Joe Mifsud, who is appearing for Dr Pace, over whether they could be considered as representing Mr Desira as a victim.
Dr Mifsud said Mr Justice Quintano was still a serving member of the Bench, and was not accused. “God forbid”, he said, there was any doubt over his integrity.
Dr de Marco retorted: “Who is saying there are no...
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