Warden cleared of posing naked in public
A 25-year-old warden, who had originally been found guilty of offending public morals when she posed naked for photographs in public places, was cleared by an appeals court because the prosecution failed to prove the date and time when the offence took place.
The warden’s name cannot be published by court order.
She was charged after the police found photos of her posing in the nude, topless and in lingerie in remote areas such as Buskett and Maltese rocky beaches. The police had found the prints during a search at the property of a third person in connection with a separate case.
Mr Justice Joseph Galea Debono, presiding over the Court of Criminal of Appeal, said there was no indication of when the photos were taken. All that could be established was that the woman had reached puberty stage when the photographs were taken.
According to law, the prosecution must indicate a date and time when the offence allegedly occurred. In this case, this was missing so the woman could not be found guilty. He therefore cleared her of the charges.
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13 Comments
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Raymond Sammut
Feb 1st 2008, 05:54
Those police officers who brought charges against this girl should be made to do the full monty in front of the Taxation Office, and give something back to the community.
Keith Whitton
Jan 31st 2008, 19:52
Even more of a worry than the prosecution itself, is the fact that it succeeded in the court of first instance, and it was only in the Court of Appeal that it was found that the prosecution was flawed from the outset...
Mario Vella
Jan 31st 2008, 16:17
Reading this article made me laugh - there are dozens of "voyeur" websites online, with women posing nude outdoors - how such an occurence in Malta can make it to the news is hilarious. Even the fact that her job as a warden was mentioned. As if wardens are expected to behave themselves. Malta needs to grow up.
Aaron Cole
Jan 31st 2008, 14:40
I do not understand, what is the criminal offence in this. I mean, if the person went around giving the pictures to people,I would understand that she offended the public. But please they were private pictures. I think this a perfect case that shows that our police force has got nothing better to do. Apart from this she posed in lingerie so shouldn't approximately 1/2 the dancers and females visiting Paceville these days and especially in summer be prosecuted too?
Evelyn Micallef
Jan 31st 2008, 13:38
The Maltese do bat an eyelid when they see a topless woman, do not be mistaken there!
Some even go as far as to approach her and ask her to put her top back on.
Oh no, the laws do represent the people's mentality.
Only, the mentality is archaic.
carmelo aquilina
Jan 31st 2008, 12:37
No one has complained about the woman, so whose morals were offended? These photographs were private and not worse than what is found legally in Playboy magazine on sale at your local newsagent. The police were acting as badly as the morality police in Iran. What a waste of money and time . This woman should sue the police for a malicious prosecution.
Mauro Ossola
Jan 31st 2008, 12:18
All this may sound funny or even 'picturesque.'......but how much did it cost the taxpayers ?
Joseph Micallef
Jan 31st 2008, 10:33
When will we start making a distinction between nudity and vulgarity or pornography? Why is a painting of a nude called art and a photograph of a woman considered an incriminating piece of evidence? What if this woman posed for a painter and her portrait was drawn on canvas and hung somewhere public? Aren't the nude models at the school of art posing nude in public as well? Isn't photography considered art anymore or is it less art than painting? The thing is that Maltese are not really prude - its the laws that depict us as prude. Many Maltese nowadays sunbathe topless or naked or do not bat an eye when a woman is topless at the beach. The Maltese mentality has changed according with the times and that's a good thing. Now its the time for the law to change!
Robert Borg
Jan 31st 2008, 10:18
The first time we find a warden not annoying anyone and we try to prosecute her! Justice prevails!!
Steve Bonello
Jan 31st 2008, 10:07
Bring back the "ghonella" I say!
Graham Crocker
Jan 31st 2008, 09:50
Bet you they just opened the case, so that they could properly secure the evidence.
Dave Pulis
Jan 31st 2008, 09:17
In my opinion people on this island are overly prude. Not to imply that Malta should be a nudist colony but taking the woman to court.....just too much.
Mark Aloisio
Jan 31st 2008, 04:59
Where are we sending our police cadets for training? Saudi Arabia and Iran? I feel so much safer knowing that our police force has got its priorities in order. This woman clearly represented a serious threat to public safety.......