Simshar widow may keep home after all

The in-laws who want to evict the grieving widow of Simshar victim Noel Carabott from her family home have no legal title to the property, according to the Parliamentary Secretariat for Land. Stephania Carabott, who lived in the Marsaxlokk property with her husband for 10 years, has been ordered by a court to vacate the building within four months, which will leave her with no roof over her head.

However, in an unexpected twist, the Government's Property Division yesterday referred to the court case won by the in-laws and said it wanted to clarify the situation, since the property is owned by the Joint Office.

The division's research has revealed that Mrs Carabott's in-laws have no right to the property - which had been converted from an animal shed into a home - and the Joint Office had stopped accepting the money due for the agricultural lease from the family back in August 2007.

It also established that last July, the Joint Office turned down a request by the family notary to recognise Suzanne Buttiġieġ, Noel's sister, as the farmer of the land. This request, it said, was refused on legal grounds.

However, Mrs Buttiġieġ yesterday called The Times contesting this, saying the division was referring to another property and not the one her sister-in-law was living in.

By the time of going to print, the secretariat was sticking to the official statement issued by the Department of Information, saying that the property was the same one Mrs Carabott was staying at.

This turn of events means the situation could be looking brighter for the 29-year-old widow, who has no place to turn to. However, sources said it was premature to say whether the property will remain in Mrs Carabott's hands.

"This possibility is obviously being looked into but it's still too early to say how things will unfold due to the pressing legal issues," the sources said.

Mrs Carabott and her lawyer, Kris Busietta, are praying for a happy ending and Dr Busietta hoped it could eventually be possible to give his client the right of first refusal to the property.

Meanwhile, Mrs Carabott, who has been on a roller coaster of emotions in the past days, was trying not to be overly enthusiastic about the news, even though trying to take things one step at a time was too hard.

"I'm still trying to take it all in. Last night I barely slept. I was praying to Noel and left my life in his hands. I don't wish anybody any harm but I'd be so happy if I get to remain in our house," she said.

Earlier this week, The Times had reported that the in-laws could face legal action if it was established that they breached the lease contract.

The Marsaxlokk property was leased by Mrs Carabott's father-in-law, Joseph, and his sister Dolores. However, it is owned by the Joint Office and, according to law, if a person leases a property from this office he has to live in it himself and not let it out to anybody else.

This unfolding story of the 29-year-old widow, who lost her husband in the Simshar fishing boat tragedy last summer, has touched the hearts of many. As it emerged that she would be thrown out on the street several people posting comments on timesofmalta.com offered to help.

Mrs Carabott's 33-year-old husband was one of four crew members, including a boy, who died after the boat reportedly caught fire in an explosion.