Jury in rape trial likely to deliberate today

Jurors in the trial of two Libyan men charged in connection with the rape of a Swedish girl in 2006 are expected to retire to deliberate today.

Nader Abdulaziz Elgerian, 29, is pleading not guilty to raping the girl and indecently assaulting and threatening her.

His friend Hasan Mohamed Ahmed, 30, is denying assisting in the crime.

The two men are also charged with holding the girl against her will and slightly injuring her.

The court heard on Monday how the girl had been holidaying here with a friend when the alleged incident occurred. In a statement to the police, the girl said that, after leaving a club in Paceville with her friend, they met two men who offered to show them a shortcut to their hotel. She said that both herself and her friend got very drunk that night.

In Shingles Bay, St Julians, where the alleged incident took place, the alleged victim said that at one point she blacked-out and on coming to,she found Mr Hasan sitting on her chest while Mr Nadar raped her.

Anthony Barbara, head of the Prosecution Unit at the Attorney General's Office, prosecuted.

Lawyer Joe Brincat appeared for the two men.