Extradition request over rape of girl

Australian authorities are requesting the extradition of a Maltese-Australian man for 17 counts of violent indecent assault and the rape of a girl, aged under 14, over the period of one year.

John Mary Chircop stumbled into the court room and was escorted to the dock, where he sat before his eyes began to close.

The 41-year-old Australian-born man looked faint and one of his lawyers handed him a piece of chocolate. His eyes still closed, Mr Chircop heard Police Inspector Raymond Aquilina read out the extradition request before Magistrate Miriam Hayman.

Mr Chircop appeared in the Magistrates' Court under arrest on the strength of a provisional warrant issued by Magistrate Lawrence Quintano.

Inspector Aquilina yesterday exhibited several documents including Mr Chircop's criminal record, a statement he released to the police when he was arrested on Thursday and a copy of the warrant issued by Magistrate Quintano which referred to the 17 arrest warrants issued by the Australian courts.

Mr Chircop's defence team told Magistrate Hayman that their client was in a lot of trouble when he lived in Australia as his partner turned out to be affiliated with the mafia there and that he had been beaten by Australian police when charged over the rape. Senior Counsel to the Republic Donatella Frendo Dimech said these allegations of violence had never been raised before. She said that Mr Chircop had escaped from Australia just two days after being granted bail by the courts there.

The defence added that their client was currently under psychiatric care as he had tried to harm himself.

They requested that he be detained at Mount Carmel's Forensic Ward.

Magistrate Hayman upheld the request.

Lawyers Michael Tanti-Dougall, Jacqueline Tanti-Dougall and Philip Galea Farrugia appeared for Mr Chircop.