Teenager accused of cousin's gang rape

Three young men were yesterday charged with the gang rape of an 18-year-old woman who suffers from mental health problems and is the cousin of one of the alleged assailants.

The men, one 19 and two 20-year-olds, pleaded not guilty to raping the girl and holding her against her will in Senglea on Sunday.

The charges brought against the 19-year-old included the aggravating circumstance of raping a relative.

Magistrate Miriam Hayman heard Police Inspector Anthony Cassar explain that the youths have been charged under arrest because of the serious nature of the crime that involved the rape of a woman who suffered from mental illness.

Defence counsel Joseph Giglio argued that anything that happened between the three youths and the girl - who were in the same age group - happened with everybody's consent. He claimed that the only problem the woman suffered from was promiscuity.

The men were remanded in custody. A request for bail will be considered once the victim testifies.

Names are not being published to protect the identity of the victim given her relationship with one of the accused.

Police Inspectors Cassar and Raymond Aquilina prosecuted.