Judge testifies from the bench in Ray Pace bribery case

Mr Justice Lawrence Quintano testified from the bench this morning when a court continued to hear evidence against two men who stand accused of bribing late Judge Ray Pace. The accused, Raymond Caruana and Sandro Psaila, are pleading not guilty to bribing the judge to use his influence so that the prison term of Darren Desira, who was convicted of drug trafficking, could be a long one. The man had been sentenced by Mr Justice Quintano. In his testimony, Mr Justice Quintano said Judge Pace had gone to his Chambers to speak to him. He used his body language to show that he wanted him to leave.  Judge Pace left after about seven minutes. Mr Justice Quintano said that he had a lot of complex arguments to consider in the Desira case. The prosecution were after the pound of flesh but the defence had made powerful arguments. Judge Pace had asked him what case he was considering. He had replied that he was considering the drugs case and told him the amount of drug involved. Judge Pace told him that was a serious case. Mr Justice Quintano said he had handed down his judgement (last November) and he was fully responsible for it. Asked how long he had been hearing drug cases, he said he...