Man admits defiling girl, 12

Joseph Schembri

Feb 13th 2009, 17:14

I agree that a person of 12, regardless of outwards experiences, is still a child as regards maturity. But I still don't agree that a child should not shoulder some responsibility for her/ his actions. It is unfair to put all blame on one party. Meanwhile I urge all parents to monitor internet use. If they do not know anything about the internet they should learn or else refuse internet use to 'minors'! Let's not shrug off all responsibility. Meanwhile I reiterate my claim that age of consent in Malta should go from the ridiculously high age of 18 (highest in Europe) to at least 16. Young people should learn how to shoulder responsibility for their actions. We are living in a schizophrenic society where in many European countries it is considered abusive to discipline a minor. But then if a 25 year old man has sex with a 17 year old woman he is labeled for life a paedophile.

Emma Xerri

Feb 11th 2009, 23:29

What is wrong with Malta? Why are these heinous crimes against children (and make no mistake about it, a girl of 12 is a child, despite outward appearances), being treated so lightly?

Paedophilia should not be tolerated and if the Laws are lacking in adequate sentencing for such crimes against children, then the Law should be amended.

And what about a Sex-Offenders' Registry? People and parents have a right to know where and who these persons are and where they are to protect their children from these predators. It is an established fact that paedophilia is not curable and these perverts will always strike again.

Helen McAleer

Feb 11th 2009, 20:53

I cannot believe some of the comments
A 31 year old ADULT man has ADMITTED to defiling a 12 year old CHILD and got away with it, because she may have been precocious and flirty on MSN.
Please....................... this is an adult taking advantage of a minor and there is no excuse.
why don't you go a bit further
If a 12 year old goes out in shorts in the summer heat and gets molested, its her fault?
If a kid is good looking and gets defiled that's her fault because she should have been ugly?
Wake up and listen to yourselves...
The fact remains that if an adult chooses to meet up with a kid, however precocious flirty beautiful or even if she looks older, IT IS WRONG AND IMMORAL and should have been punished accordingly.

By the way there is a word that describes these people and even the worst criminals in the world abhor them, why are some of you condoning this disgusting behaviour?

Joseph Micallef

Feb 11th 2009, 18:05

@ Joseph Schembri - as I told you yesterday your comments are uncalled for and counter productive. Stop blaming the victim! People, ie paedophiles who use the internet to lure children use false profiles of themselves and convince the child that they are of the same age - and probably even of the same sex.
You are starting to give me a bad impression of yourself. I hope I am wrong! Your reasoning is totally wrong and out of place plus out of synch with the reality. - Any respectful person would just condemn the paedophile and not insist on putting the blame - even if not totally - on the victim. This is not a question of not meeting a stranger. This is a question of the child thinking of meeting a friend of her own age. That's how these things happen.

Marc La Rue

Feb 11th 2009, 14:18

Is this justice for an innocent girl and her family?

Maria Dolores Fenech

Feb 11th 2009, 09:41

@Paul Barrett
You are the one who do not have the details of this case. The article says 'indecently assaulted her....'

But if you need more read this
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20090210/local/man-performs-sex-acts-with-young-girl-he-met-on-internet

Well?

Joseph Schembri

Feb 11th 2009, 08:19

Make children responsible for their actions too. Being 12 year old nowadays is no longer an excuse. A normal 12 year old girl is not an idiot and less than a century ago 14 year olds were getting married and making babies.

If the man knew that she was 12 what he did is wrong but let's not overdramatise - some 12 year olds are really precocious. Look at the social netowrking site hi5 and see what our Maltese 12 year olds are up to nowadays. If you are not partial to seediness and sleaze turn to Freud or if psychology is not your forte turn to fiction and read the famous novel by Vladimir Nabakov.

Paul Barrett

Feb 10th 2009, 08:55

Before going over the top, please remember that we have only the very slim details of the article to go on.
This may be a very minor case, (a peck on the cheek and a pat on the bum?), we have not heard the facts nor any evidence and therefore the degree of harm or abuse that may have taken place. Magistrate Edwina Grima, having heard the evidence presented to her has made a ruling consistent with the evidence.

G Falzon

Feb 10th 2009, 00:04

I am of the opinion that the learned magistrate has enough reason to arrive at this sentence. However the way these stories are published lead one to believe that justice has gone crazy. The crime as published deserves a life sentence. But something must have led the magistrate to arrive at such a very light sentence. Unless those details are published, justice will keep appearing a mockery in the public eye!

Enzo Caruana

Feb 9th 2009, 20:08

Something is seriously wrong here. Either the court applied the sentence in the norms of the existing laws or it was too lenient with the accused. Whatever the reasons supporting this sentence, something must be done and very quickly. Our penal code must be overhauled to allow the courts to inflict harsher penalties on offenders of such abhorrent crimes or the Commission for Justice takes a deeper look into what is going on in our law courts.

Alfred Cassar

Feb 9th 2009, 20:07

Apparentely no Maltese magistrate has ever had a family member going through such shocking experience.

Alfred Cassar

Feb 9th 2009, 20:07

Apparentely no Maltese magistrate has ever had a family member going through such shocking experience. Shame on them.

Jo.Galea

Feb 9th 2009, 19:58

I urge to whoever knows this man, to e-mail his photograph to relatives and friends, until it is posted around malta and gozo.

Elaine Fitouri

Feb 9th 2009, 19:34

It might come as a shock for some.. but so called justice all depends on how good your lawyer is in court. With the right argument and placing of words, one can make a perpetrator look like the victim. Shame. True. But it's all a game. Just a legal game. I feel sorry for this little girl, for her parents and for the future victims. Taking the law into one's own hands is wrong. But can you really blame a parent when the law courts deal with paedophiles in this way?

D Fenech

Feb 9th 2009, 19:29

monica muscat

Feb 9th 2009, 18:41

What is going on in our law courts? A four year suspended sentence for one who admittedly ruined the life of a young girl! Is there no extra cell at the prisons for such a man? Does he have to repeat the offence and ruin another young soul before the Judges realize that society is safe from these people only when they are behind bars? A real shame!

M. Caruana

Feb 9th 2009, 18:24

Some Justice! We need to petition for a change in the laws, especially with regards to sexual abuse and related crimes on children. The justice system is there to offer law abiding citizens some peace of mind. I, a father of two young girls, do not feel at all safer after this sentence.

Gina Caruana

Feb 9th 2009, 18:07

Why do our courts persist in allowing paedophiles the opportunity to prey on more children?

Rache Attard

Feb 9th 2009, 18:06

Bad reporting. The accused was not jailed but was given a suspended jail sentence.

Joanne Micallef

Feb 9th 2009, 18:03

What a DISGRACE Such a mediocre sentence for such a crime and to add insult to injury from a female magistrate too.

d. borg

Feb 9th 2009, 17:53

A suspended sentence for destroying the life of a child? The magistrate, being a woman, should have understood more what this poor girl went through and the trauma she'll carry for the rest of her life. Unbelievable!!

Kirill Micallef Stafrace

Feb 9th 2009, 17:42

i hope this is just a case of an erroneous reportage

Ronald Caruana

Feb 9th 2009, 17:19

Alex Coppola

Feb 9th 2009, 17:17

What a shame!!! Is this justice? How can we get rid of these in the streets when all they get is a 2 year suspended sentence and ruining the future and life of a 12 year old girl? He should have been given at least 20-25 "full" years in prison.

G C Micallef

Feb 9th 2009, 16:57

Shame! ! When is justice going to be done with such people? In prison such people are seperated as even other prisoners do not tolerate them in their presence. It seems the courts have a soft spot for such horrendous crimes.

m galea

Feb 9th 2009, 16:43

The act is Child Sexual Abuse, pure and simple. No strings attached. Plea: Guilty! Sentence: Just don't repeat it. Lesson learned? Zip! Country? Malta: where we got much bla bla bla, and all the BS talk about education, child rights, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera, but NO enforcement. We talk the talk, we do not walk the walk. Period.

Joseph Seisun

Feb 9th 2009, 16:38

What is happening to justice? Why give this man another chance to defile another child? Will he be monitored 24/seven? I don't think so! So what if he does it again? He will get a short sentence while the next victim will be sentenced for a lifetime of psychological damage. Tough luck!! This is not justice, this is a new form of distorted justice!

Maria Dolores Fenech

Feb 9th 2009, 16:26

Oh, so because his early guilty plea he was set 'free'! Is this how the courts 'protect' our children? Shame on them.

Marion Zammit

Feb 9th 2009, 16:25

It is shameful that this man gets just a supspended 4 year sentence. It is as if the girl was assaulted again, this time by the so-called justice. Yes, where is justice???? How can a magistrate even consider NOT jailing this man?? This guy's imagine should be all over Malta and Gozo to make people aware of who this man is.

Joe Morana

Feb 9th 2009, 16:23

SHAME.

Michelle Mifsud

Feb 9th 2009, 16:21

I am not in the least surprised that this man got away with a suspended sentence. Please don't forget that we live in a world where what is not right is acceptable because we are all human and prone to error. What is hurtful and painful is not even measured because that is the least important as it does not even make its presence felt in anyone's mind and even less in their heart so long as they are not the victim. I's a world where suffering i.e whoever be the victimed is put aside. Only those close by and who believe in God's love can nurse the pain and hurt and everyone else continues with their life.

mary ann borg

Feb 9th 2009, 16:15

JOSEPH ZAMMIT

Feb 9th 2009, 15:53

...and then we wonder how come that crime is getting more popular.
How can one be afraid of breaking the rules and laws when all you get is slap on the hands? Did anyone consider the trauma the victim goes through?
Ara vera spicca dan il-pajjiz!!!!

A Abela

Feb 9th 2009, 15:43

A 31 yr old man defiles and indecently assaults a 12 yr old girl and they set him free on a suspended sentence?? Is that all he gets for destroying the life of this 12 yr old girl and her family? Early guilty plea or no early guilty plea, this adds insult to injury to the 12 yr old victim and people in the same position as herself and her family. Was one 12 yr old girl not enough?