Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/472423
maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 4 MARCH 2015 News 1S\b`S>]W\bB`W_2c\9O`[ 0W`YW`YO`O0g^Oaa0W`YW`YO`O 09@'!%;OZbO >V]\S(!#$ ! "!!" ESP(eeeRW[SQVS\bQ][ 3[OWZ(OZO\.RW[SQVS\bQ][ Lawyer disrespected journalist testifying in libel case – IGM THE Institute for Maltese Jour- nalists has denounced comments made by lawyer Joseph Zammit Maempel in court during a libel case in which he denigrated wit- ness Saviour Balzan, as "in need of psychiatric care". The MaltaToday managing edi- tor was exhibiting in court several internal police documents link- ing police inspector Elton Taliana with notorious criminals, as part of his evidence in a defamation case against him. Balzan was testifying in libel pro- ceedings filed against MaltaToday journalist Raphael Vassallo by Tal- iana about an article linking the in- spector to arson attacks on Balzan's residence at the time. In a statement, the Institute said comments by Zammit Maempel to Balzan, calling him "paranoid" and "in need of psychiatric care" went beyond his competence as a law- yer and lacked respect towards the journalist. "The IGM augurs that respect reigns in both words and actions where there is any disagreement or argumentation," the institute said. In the libel case, Balzan was pre- senting evidence on Taliana, who filed for libel over an article pub- lished after an investigation into the wrongful arrest of Darryl Luke Borg, in which Elton Taliana was involved. Balzan told the court that he had received documents show- ing that Taliana socialised with Borg and other shady characters convicted of drugs and theft. "I was informed that Taliana's brother was the owner of an apart- ment that was also used as a broth- el. I passed this on to Peter Paul Zammit, the Commissioner of Po- lice at the time," Balzan said. Balzan told the court that the po- lice was given footage of Taliana's brother outside a private bank, waiting for someone to withdraw money from the ATM and then be- ing handed the cash. "Why is this all relevant? I began to have serious doubts about Taliana's character. I had met with Peter Paul Zammit and asked him why no steps had been taken against him, in spite of all this evidence. He did not an- swer." Balzan exhibited copies of re- ports from November 2007 and a statement taken from Inspector Taliana by police inspector Karl Haber. "The most important thing, however is the note from the po- lice file which says that Taliana was moonlighting as a bouncer in Pacevile, imported firearms and had taken part in the arson of a residence. This note was written before my meeting with Rizzo." According to one report exhib- ited by Balzan, Taliana had been a doorman at the XS club in Vic- toria, Gozo. Investigations also showed that Taliana had two ID cards, one for Malta and one for Gozo. Balzan exhibited a series of pho- tos of Taliana in the company of several known criminals, some of whom were jailed for drugs of- fences, others for theft. "These are all in the possession of the police, but these things remain hidden. I do not know what has been done with regard to these issues." The defence attempted to derail the defendant's testimony, asking whether he was aware of when Taliana was made inspector. Bal- zan said that he did not know, but "what I know is that he was not worthy of being appointed inspec- tor in the first place". It was at this point that Taliana's lawyer Joe Zammit Maempel told the court that Balzan needed a psy- chiatrist. Balzan told the court if that was the case, then perhaps he should stop giving evidence. Zammit Maempel even pro- ceeded to ask Balzan if his source had been Taliana's estranged wife, to which Balzan answered that he would not reveal his source. Zammit Maempel's comments about Balzan went beyond his lawyer's competence – Institute for Maltese Journalists Lawyer Joe Zammit Maempel