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.