Accused of raping former girlfriend

A 25-year-old man, whose name cannot be published by court order, was yesterday granted bail against a deposit of Lm500 after he was charged with violently raping his former girlfriend, inflicting slight injuries on her and holding her against her will on July 2 at Ghar Lapsi.

The court heard that the accused and his girlfriend had a two-year-old child but that they had recently ended their relationship.

Police Inspector Sharon Tanti, who prosecuted, said the accused had threatened his former girlfriend and her family and they could not agree on visits he wanted to make to see his child. Inspector Tanti said the incident was a serious one as it was spread over a number of hours. On her part, the victim told the police she did not wish her former boyfriend to be jailed because she did not want to tell her son his father was in prison.

The prosecution objected to bail.

The defence argued that the accused was maintaining the child and could lose his job if he was denied bail.

The court granted him bail and allowed him to continue working but had to stay at home at all other times when he was not at work.

Lawyers Roberto Montalto and Dr Deborah Delceppo were defence counsel.

Lawyer Veronique Dalli appeared in parte civile.