Man charged with sexual assaults on granddaughter

A pensioner was yesterday charged with repeated sexual assaults on his granddaughter over the past few years. Today she is 17.

The 66-year-old grandfather covered his face with his hands and wept as he stood in the dock to answer to charges of defilement and the violent indecent assault on his son's daughter.

He pleaded not guilty to the charges before Magistrate Miriam Hayman who ordered a ban on the publication of the man's name in the interest of his granddaughter.

Lawyer Roberto Montalto, for the man, then made a request for bail.

After taking the man's age and medical condition into account, Magistrate Hayman granted him bail and moved on to explain the bail conditions. The magistrate spoke loudly into the microphone to ensure that the man, who said he was hard of hearing, would understand his conditions.

As the magistrate was explaining to him that the accused could not leave his Paola residence, the accused leaned on the lawyers' desk so his forehead touched its surface, and held his head as he mumbled that he hoped his family would still accept him at home.

The man's son - the father of the girl - then went up to his father and helped him sit down on a bench in the dock.

When the man composed himself, the magistrate went on to explain to him that he had to sign at his local police station once a week and bound him by a Lm500 deposit and a personal guarantee of Lm1,000.

She also told him that he could not approach or contact his granddaughter in any way and issued a protection order for the girl.

Police Inspector Louise Calleja prosecuted.