Daphne Caruana Galizia expected to face charges of defamation

Columnist Daphne Caruana Galizia is expected to face charges of defamation over a string of allegations about Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera on her blog.

A date still has to be set for Ms Caruana Galizia to be formally charged but it is believed that the case has been assigned to Magistrate Antonio Micallef Trigona.

Earlier this morning, Justice Minister Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici said the Commission for the Administration of Justice has taken note of the allegations made against the magistrate by Ms Caruana Galizia and the police are investigating the situation.

In a series of blog entries, columnist Daphne Caruana Galizia has criticised the magistrate, arguing that her behaviour was inappropriate for someone in her position.

The magistrate has since abstained from presiding over two unrelated libel hearings involving Ms Caruana Galizia, who said she was "petitioning the Chief Justice" to get the magistrate off the cases.