Intimacy lands boy in trouble

Raymond Sammut

Jun 5th 2009, 12:14

@ Stephen Farrugia

Please read again what Dr. A. Mifsud-Bonnici is saying:

"... the term "defile" must be put in context. Eg, if a person is sexually mature (even if minor) then he/she cannot be defiled. Thus the sexual intercourse would probably be legal."

The court decided in this case -- after taking maturity into consideration and considering that the defendant admitted the charge -- that defilement occurred. When it comes to assessing maturity, the eighteen years limit is stipulated in law to guide the court on when to consider maturity as a determinant upon the outcome.

Beyond the age limit, we are then staring at the possibility of "date rape", which is not uncommon and much harder to deal with. Essentially, it comes down to one person (clearly the stronger) dominating the other to an extent where advantage by one to the detriment of the other is understood to have taken place regardless of age. Being 18+ is not a blank cheque for tricking someone into something they didn't want to do. And if the weaker person decided to speak out, that person is entitled to a fair hearing and without prejudice.

Stephen Farrugia

Jun 5th 2009, 02:55

The law should have been more straight as both parties were involved.

Marianna Galea Xuereb

May 31st 2009, 14:38

Lowering the age of consent will protect abusers (rapists and cunning seducers) even more than they are protected now. Shameless criminal defense lawyers will have a field day proposing theories that “the alleged victim actually conceded to the sexual acts when they took place and only had second thoughts afterwards so my client must not be found guilty”.

It will push forward the fallacious message that sex is practically risk free, repercussion free and no big deal.

What we ought to do is inform youngsters that scientific research shows that the human brain does not generally reach full development till around 25 years of age.

AND

Despite all the hype about condoms, contraceptive-pills, abortions and medical treatments for some (but by no means all) of the multitude of STDs, the best way of protecting against STDs (and the risk of emotional heartache, depression and begetting unwanted and/or victim children) is to delay having sex until you find a like minded, equally cautious, virgin, potential lover equally committed to delaying sexual gratification until he/she is mature enough to stand a chance of finding AND recognizing the right, life-long partner for him/her – however boring, old-fashioned, utopian and difficult that may seem.

Stephen Farrugia

May 31st 2009, 02:41

Laws need to be followed by everyone, especially when exerted.

Marianna Galea Xuereb

May 30th 2009, 22:44

@ jane deguara nee Hughes

“… there is a girl near me who is pregnant and under age and she thinks its good shes going to be a mum. she is also 14”

If the girl has no qualms about being a parasite of society then it might even be good for her, but it certainly is not good for the child or for decent, tax paying workers or for persons who have ever worked.

Unfortunately being a parasite of society or a free rider is not technically considered a crime.

Joseph Schembri

May 30th 2009, 17:27

I used to believe that the age of consent needed to be lowered from our abnormally high 18 years to 16. Cases such as this show amply that the age of consent should be 14 as in nearby Italy and a host of other European countries. Then all this making criminals out of ordinary people will cease.

jane deguara nee hughes

May 26th 2009, 09:34

@ Matthew Agius well said.. and let me tell you girls at 14 these days act like they are 16 going on 18.. there is a girl near me who is pregnant and under age and she thinks its good shes going to be a mum. she is also 14...

Raymond Sammut

May 25th 2009, 20:19

@ Sarah Attard What Dr. Mifsud Bonnici is saying ("interpretation"), I believe, is that each case has its merits. In my view, a case presented in a court setting would have two essential elements, namely, the sincerity of the plaintive and the emotional age ("maturity") of the child. Both of these elements would require analyses by professional people, presumably provided by the courts. The hardest part would be the determination (or some form of reliable assessment) of "emotional age". Emotional Intelligence is still a gray subject for psychologists, and a challenging area in research. The gap between a 14-year old girl and a 16-year old boy may not seem much. Emotionally, however, it may well be that she could be much younger. As it turns out, also adults have the potential to be emotionally as young as ten. When a person is emotionally very young, it is not hard for that person to be compelled or "bullied" into doing things they did not really want to do. This occurs in other forms of activities, and not just sexual activities. My guess would be that emotional age (or "maturity" -- Dr. Mifsud Bonnici's term) would have been the determining factor.

Sarah Attard

May 25th 2009, 16:30

@ Raymond Sammut Thank you for that. In fact, that link was one of a few which I found to be dealing with this topic. Since the link itself admitted that the age of consent was subject to interpretation, this led to my comment that present legislation on the issue is vague at best. You yourself also stated that sex with somebody under the age of 18 "COULD trigger a criminal offense (ie could, not will.) This in itself, I believe, is an issue which must be addressed, and legislation on the matter be made clearer - especially given the repercussions it could have on teenagers such as this boy, choosing to have consensual sex with his girlfriend.

M. Zarb

May 25th 2009, 14:54

16 years old? That would place the child at the end of his secondary school career, in Form 5. Now, regardless of the fact that sex with a 14-year old is corruptive (BUT nobody can deny that it's happening in these modern times, despite it being 'bad'), I'd like to remember my sex ed lessons from school.

My "sex ed" (in PSE) teacher was a 40-year old man who was slightly gruff. Most lessons involved us learning that 'smoking was bad' and 'passive smoking can kill people'. I think over the course of five years we only had one or two 'sex' lessons (cue sniggering), where we were told that 'you have to be careful who to have sex with due to STDs'.

I never remember learning that 'sex with a 14-year old was bad'- I mean, consider the situation: this boy is having sex with a girl he could very well be calling his girlfriend, who is only two years younger! When you're a Form 5 student you feel you're a "grown up"; is it possible that nobody taught him the repercussions of his actions?

Raymond Sammut

May 24th 2009, 21:33

@ Sarah Attard

The following information is currently freely available on-line:
QUOTE:
From: "Aron Mifsud-Bonnici"
Subject: RE: research assistance
Date: Thu, 20 Aug 1998 18:16:10

Maltese law makes it an offence for a person to "defile" a minor.

Consequently, the predominant view is that when a minor is involved (ie a person under the age of 18) there is a criminal offence. This is, however, subject to interpretation.

Besides, the term "defile" must be put in context. Eg, if a person is sexually mature (even if minor) then he/she cannot be defiled. Thus the sexual intercourse would probably be legal.

One thing to note is that if a person involved in a sexual relationship in under the age of 12 then there is a legal presumption that there was rape.

Nonetheless, it is safer to state that the age of consent in Malta is 18.

Best regards
Dr. Aron Mifsud Bonnici
Dr. A. Mifsud-Bonnici LL.D. Advocate
10 Triq San Anton, Attard BZN 10, Malta
UNQUOTE

Maltese law, in my view, makes it clear that sexual activity (outside marriage) involving at least one person younger than 18 could trigger a criminal offense.

Sarah Attard

May 24th 2009, 18:50

For those in this thread who have referred to the age of consent in Malta: Could I kindly ask you to indicate your references for this, if I may? This is purely out of interest.... I have attempted a search on this issue and come across various contradictory claims in this respect - some stating 16, others 18, and so on. After looking up the relevant section in the Civil Code, it becomes apparent that any marriage amongst those under the age of 16 shall be rendered null and void. However, I have found any legislation on the age of consent for sex in Malta to be most vague at best, example in the Maltese Criminal Code articles 198 - 209. Sincle I have no legal background myself, I am hoping that somebody with more knowledge on this issue as it applies to Malta could enlighten me, since the term 'age of consent' is currently being thrown around as though it is straightforward and clear cut. From what I can see thus far, it doesn't seem to be straightforward at all.

Marianna Galea Xuereb

May 23rd 2009, 04:09

Well said Ms P Graham

A 14 year old girl shouldn't even contemplate having sex at this age and the sooner it is made a criminal offense for youngsters of both sexes and their parents held accountable for this irresponsible behavior the better!

The age of consent may have been lowered to16 and most teenagers go through urges to have sex but it is still grossly irresponsible to do so.

In my day it was drummed into our heads that we had to control urges no matter how strong they were and having raging hormones was not accepted as an excuse for lack of self control. Moreover single mothers and the men who rendered them so were not spoiled rotten by social service handouts, misplaced compassion and abuse of empathy arguments.

Introduce proper sex education, self control and discipline from as early an age as possible and do away with doling out monetary allowances to teenage mothers who have never worked or paid national insurance contributions.

Yes, several other countries have lowered the age of consent even further and this probably accounts for their higher rates of STDs among teens despite the easy availability of condoms.

Marianna Galea Xuereb

May 23rd 2009, 03:49

@ edward bartolo
“Moreover, at age 15, the human brain is fully grown and mature... only experience lacks.”

Are you sure, Sir?
If I remember correctly, studies indicate that the human brain is unlikely to be fully developed before 25 years of age

L Cardona

May 22nd 2009, 22:15

I cannot understand how girls of fourteen are allowed to marry and have children, but they cannot have sex?

J.Pace

May 22nd 2009, 20:27

@matthew attard I was just being sarcastic, cause I can't understand why a minor having sex is being accused for corruption when this is happening all the time and everywhere.

Matthew Agius

May 22nd 2009, 19:49

With regards to whether these children where doing something right or wrong: I believe that sexuality is a development starts before the age of legal adulthood (18), HOWEVER, we should be providing the right sexual education for our children, to disattach ourselves from this 'taboo'. Only through sexual education, can these children appreciate sexuality and its meaningfulness, whilst being careful and responsible. On the other hand, with regards to the case, I believe that if this case had to be referred to the ECJ (European Court of Justice), the Court might be charged with breaching the EU's fundamental principle of equality. This is pure DISCRIMINATION - both boy and girl are from the same age group. Why is the boy charged and the girl not, since this was consensual!? As I already said...If we want to abide by the principle of equality, in this case gender equality, we have to abide by it both on the good and the bad end!

Raymond Sammut

May 22nd 2009, 19:48

To the best of my knowledge, 18 years is the legal age of consent in Malta for sexual activity. The activity took place in the boy's house (presumably his parents' house). The boy also admitted the charge, presumably with agreement from his parents. There is no mention in these reports that would indicate that the boy's parents are in a defensible position. It is only the girl's mother who took action as the plaintive, and the Malta courts have agreed with her. On the basis of what is public knowledge, the Malta courts have clearly taken the right decision. This is because, in my view, the well being of a 14 year old girl must take precedence. It is clear from what has been reported that the girl is the weakest among all the people involved in this case (children and parents), and therefore deserves the full protection of the law.

V Caruana

May 22nd 2009, 19:26

We know of a 16-yr boy, a 14-yr old girl, her mother and the court. Is "the court" a male or a female. I think that teens should have theory sex teaching lessons (no practice pls) to get a sex licence at 18!

Joseph Schembri

May 22nd 2009, 19:14

Somoene below said 'shame on the magistrate' for the sentence. I add shame on the prosecuting officer and on the mother of the girl and above all on the girl herself. Many such cases are ones of personal vendettas. Until some time ago in Europe and Malta girls of 14 or 15 would be married and making babies - it is only now because Homo sapiens has extended the learning period to ridiculous lengths that women are getting married much later. They are also producing babies in their late 30's and any medical practitioner can tell you that the risks for baby and mum are much higher at these unnatural ages. Legislators LOWER our age of consent from the ridiculously high 18 years to something more logical. In Italy it is 14. Save heartache and making criminals and paedophiles out of ordinary and normal people!

R Gatt

May 22nd 2009, 18:45

@Tico Torrez ... Amen to that! To those thinking that young people having sex is fine and cool, you should really grow up and open your eyes to reality. Sex can wait, youth need to stay grownded and parents need to take responsibility for their kids actions. It is not ok to deem youngsters having sex because that's what goes on in the US or wherever ... unless the young couple think they are capable of burdening the responsibility of having a child of their own of course.

Matthew Attard

May 22nd 2009, 18:11

@ J. Pace: can you please enlighten all the rest of Malta as to why young people who have sex should be imprisoned? VERY looking forward to a reply.

J.Pace

May 22nd 2009, 14:28

Can anyone imagine how many are those minors who have sex? And also get pregnant? After hearing this case we should built a new big prison for all minors who have sex.

Matthew Agius

May 22nd 2009, 13:36

Aren't they from the same age bracket? If it was consensual, why did the boy suffer probation and not the girl? They committed the same crime.

So much for gender equality!

Gender equality in both ways pls.

A.Tabone

May 22nd 2009, 12:48

@ Neville

Simply because the boy is 16 and is allowed legally to have consensual sex. The girl is 14, under 16, therefore no one can have sex with her. The law distinguishes between under 16, and over 16.. same as it distinguishes under 18, and over 18.

I don't know what the situation would have been if they were both 14.

The best comment in this thread is by Sarah, were she pointed out that someone who rented out rooms to prostitutes got the same sentence as this 16 yr old boy.

Tico Torrez

May 22nd 2009, 11:34

too much rap and r&B music destroyed the innocence and sexual control of this nation...listen to Metallica "for whom the bell tolls"!!!

Gilbert Caruana

May 22nd 2009, 11:07

Whilst I appreciate the fact that what happened was utterly unjust on the boy... on the other I don't believe that if the daughter concerned was of someone posting these comments... s/he would be delighted of what happened....

G Zammit

May 22nd 2009, 10:20

I think alot of maltese mothers should learn how to keep their children as children. How many times have we seen a little 12yr old girl in full make up and dressed as if they are 20yrs old? And 12yr olds at paceville? If your gonna make your kids grow up fast be prepared for them to do grown up things.

nevil debattista

May 22nd 2009, 09:17

Could somebody please enlighten me because this story has confused me a lot? Why is it that the boy got all the blame when after all it could have been the girl that suggested that they should get intimate? Both of them were under age and their intimacy was a consensual one that is they did what they had decided to do with their own free will. So why did the boy get all the blame? Was it because it all happened at his fathers' house? What would have happened If it was the other way round let us say that she took him to her mothers' house ? Give me some answers please.

Stephen Farrugia

May 22nd 2009, 02:57

I'm not saying give them beds and promote sex.... But at this day and age, boys and girls get intimate at a very young age, some 16year olds who are virgins believe that they are late bloomers... and who is it to blame? The over excited times we live in. So rather than fight it, why don't we conform , and EDUCATE?

I hope they would appeal for the 16 year old because he DOESN'T deserve it. The law should be changed!! Or is it because the defendant is the daughter of a friend of a friend that we punished him?

Stephen Farrugia

May 22nd 2009, 02:50

In other words, sex before 18 is a crime. even foreplay.

Come-on!!! Now why dont we go to kindergarten and if there's someone's boyfriend or girlfriend and is a bit older, we accuse them of corruption as well.

Mela ekk... Inhalluhom izommu is sigrieti l ulied sakemm jigu id dar b xi marda!

Zep Agius

May 21st 2009, 23:37

Ghaliex ma nhaggruhx ukoll lil dan il povru tifel, halli veru nigu qisna l Afghanistan. Kieku kien xi wiehed ta 61 nifimha imma mhux 16 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Qieghed nassumi ukoll li kemm min ikkundanah u anka min irrapurtah vergni u pur.

Ray Buttigieg

May 21st 2009, 21:10

i can not believe this story, is this EU Malta or Afganistan.....to charge an adult man for corrupting a 14 year old minor girl is totally acceptable but to charge a young boy of having consensual sexual relationship with a girl as 'corruption' is totally rediculous. what happened to romantic fairy tales of young teenage love stories such as that of romeo and juilet.

whats more rediculous is the fact that the boy was charged with corrupting the girl. in this age of sexual equality why was not the girl also charged of corrupting the boy. was not the boy also a minor. stories like this really expose the sick maltese attitude towards sexuality.

i think the commissioner for children should speak out on this issue as this taliban ruling is damaging to our young people in malta.

Karen Camilleri

May 21st 2009, 20:32

Why did the mother report the consensual sex of these young people to the police? That's my question.

john agius

May 21st 2009, 18:49

What a shame.....this sentence mkes malta a medieval country.... and consensual only im malta

Joseph Schembri

May 21st 2009, 18:06

The parents of the girl should be ashamed of themselves! But so should our legislators for not changing our archaic and ridiculously high age of consent laws. At 18 - our age of consent is the highest in Europe - and yes I can confirm that it is 12 in the Vatican and 14 in Italy.

Why don't our MPs tackle this issue? Is it because it is not a voter catcher? I have just heard Joseph Muscat say that he will tackle issues of injustice even if they are not popular ones. What about the issue of lowering our age of consent Dr. Muscat?

MG Buttigieg

May 21st 2009, 16:36

When values are thrown to the wind then we wallow in inconsistency and hypocrisy. Remember the case where it was alleged that in Gozo a number of men were corrupting a minor and pressure was put on her mother to hush up the case?? In that case there was a public outcry against the perpetrators of the alleged acts, the girl being a victim. In the present case the girl does not deserve to be protected as a victim as she consented etc etc. All this has nothing to do with God or "ultra-conservative" Malta. It has to do with the new philosophy of relativism. Having thrown values underfoot, our emotions have become our yardstick. Dangerous ground indeed. My criticism is directed at the opinionists and in no case at the persons involved in both cases.
There are no homosexual men but there are PERSONS with homosexual orientation. We are first and foremost persons and not sexual objects. And what we need to teach our sons and daughters is SELF RESPECT. They need to develop their personhood and thus be able to identify the values and goals which will help them attain self fulfilment in life.

S Azzopardi

May 21st 2009, 15:39

To the people that included God in their comment: This has nothing to do with God or religion but hormones and a human norm! Please leave your encapsulated bubble and see the real world! I mean on the lines of scientific proof that at that age, hormones are all over the place!

To the people who include the Church: The church stops schools from giving sex education to kids of a young age! I blame the church for not working with the problem. It is a way of ignoring a problem and allowing inadequate laws to take over!

I am not attacking the church or God, just the people who refuse to see that there is science (urges of a teenager), God (who is a guide for morals for those that believe and understand and not to teenagers in their experimental stage of life) and there is the church (which is man made and has as many flaws as the laws and any other governing body).

Andre Pizzuto

May 21st 2009, 15:11

The more time passes the more I realise what a hypocritical and ultra-conservative country Malta is. It's time to wake up and smell the coffee. Shame on the mother for pressing charges and on the magistrate for the decision. No sex please, we're Maltese... bullocks.

George Poitier

May 21st 2009, 14:11

Charged ! And what about teaching both children the consequences. Why not send them BOTH for a 6 month education programme about sex and the consequences. What good is charging the boy. What would he have learnt. Knowing boys today, he would probably become the coolest dude in his gang of friends.

Joe Xuereb

May 21st 2009, 13:28

Following on from my previous comment, please allow me to put my view more succinctly.
A girl(often but by no means always), makes it her business to become, to various degrees, sex on legs. This is encouraged all around not least through her competitive and competing femaile peers Her hormones are raging. Knowing the pitfalls (pregnancy) and physically weaker hopefully makes her rein in her advances. But not always. Certainly it does not stop her playing the flirtiing, seduction game. This is obvious to anyone with eyes.
Her counterpart, the boy, Oh! his hormones are raging too. They both are of an age. But that is where the similarity stops. He is gauche. He is in pain. He suffers guilt feelings too. And he invests a lot of energy in kicking ball. And then one day he meets a wily innocent(?). And he's had it. Or he meets an innocent. And she's had it. Or more likely, both have and have to face the music. Any judgement on these matters has to be seen in this light, as I not so succintly after all, have expounded. It is the voice of one who's been to he University of Life.

Dr. Savior Tortell Pisani

May 21st 2009, 13:12

The Law really disappoints me here!

This is inhuman, unfair and most of all UNJUST! ... NOBODY is saying that we should promote underage sex BUT this goes WAY beyond the sensible limit of parental reprimand!... This was consensual intimacy between similarly aged teens. (and perhaps not even sex!)
I still fail to see a single reason why SHE (i mean this *friendly* girlfriend) was not also handed a two year probation sentence! By the exact same principle she is just as guilty of corrupting a 16 year old! Why do we apply two weights and two measures?

Where are our elected lawmakers?? How about they take this nonsense out of our lawbooks!!

A.Tabone

May 21st 2009, 12:59

@P.Graham

The problem arises when the temptation to experiment, exceeds the need for respect. I am sure 13yr - 15yr olds are nowadays intelligent enough to fool their parents.

A Borg

May 21st 2009, 12:43

I agree with the court's decision for the following reason. I hope that someday, in the not so distant future, all the teenage single mothers who are getting caught pregnant will be educated and hopefully will be aware that unprotected sex is not good for them. I also hope that this will lessen the burden on the taxpayers who are paying for all the social benefits and free housing for these unfortunate teenage mothers who are left alone without a husband of a man in their life because they forgot with whom they where intimate.

Ms P Graham

May 21st 2009, 12:36

@P Grech
@ Ms Graham... I'm sorry if this is gonna shock you.. but usually parents that say that they know everything about their children are the ones who know nothing about their children!!!!!!
How can you control a 14 year old? maybe their parents thought that they were at school or at church or who knows where!!!!!

"Thought" isn't good enough. We should always know where our children are and for that matter who with and I hope none of my children ever feels the need to lie to me as to where they are, because if they did feel that need, I would have failed.

Think on this: There's a fire at a party venue and a few children are badly injured. You hear it on the news or from a neighbor but you don't give it another thought because your child has told you they are at a friends house. You then get the police on the doorstep telling you, your child was one of the injured.

That's how I explained the need for truth in my house and they respect that.

Is this really so abnormal?

edward bartolo

May 21st 2009, 12:36

Children and youths are not objects to be possessed by their parents. They are human beings with a mind of their own. Therefore, they should be awarded a level of freedom appropriate to their age.

Over-possessive parents are, in my opinion, harming the mental development of their offspring. On the contrary, children should be stimulated to be as independent, as their mental age permits them to be. Parents who are over-scrupolous, cannot think objectively, because their preoccupation with their conscience, overrides their will and their intellect.

Ms P Graham

May 21st 2009, 12:19

malcolm spiteri (13 hours, 54 minutes ago)
"I know where my teenagers are 24/7, who they are with and what they are up to."

...this must be one of the most naive statement I ever heard! What an illusion!!!

Maybe more parents should try it!!

My children are MY responsibility and it is my duty to them as a Mother ALL six of them to know where they are at all times and what they are up to.
It is also my duty as a Parent not to depend on other people to educate my children on morals, ethics and sex education.
It is my duty as a parent to ensure their safety, by checking out venues, sleep overs and transport arrangements because, if anything happens to my child when out of my care it is down to me. That is called responsibility!!

Sex education in schools would not be necessary if Parents were doing their "jobs" correctly!!

Miguel Micallef

May 21st 2009, 11:43

@J Farrugia

You said

"Yes do as Joseph Schembri (vox pop) has said - change the laws and make it available for 16 year olds. And when a boy of 12 does it and is caught, change the law again and make it available for 12 year olds."

and

"We do not need such laws. The law of hormones is supreme and let God be put inside a tinder box."

Haven't we already established that the age of consent is 12 in the vatican city? So the pope has put god in a tinder box?

Nice religion man! As George Carlin said, "Don't go searching for consistency in religion!"

Mark-Anthony Fenech

May 21st 2009, 10:48

@ J Farrugia: "Let's give in to public outcry immediately and save this boy from prison; instead of giving him a piece of our mind about morality and its responsibilities, and send him packing to prison."

Is this a case of two weights two measures? You haven't mentioned the girl at all! Send him packing to prison is a tad too extreme; counseling and a good lesson to both of them in common sense is in order methinks.

And please leave your 'God' out of this, we've had enough of him.

J.Borg

May 21st 2009, 10:25

maybe they were only having some intimacy and one thing led to another.......and they got over excited.....they are just kids....

J Farrugia

May 21st 2009, 08:07

Yes do as Joseph Schembri (vox pop) has said - change the laws and make it available for 16 year olds. And when a boy of 12 does it and is caught, change the law again and make it available for 12 year olds. How rural and conservative can we be, says Joseph Schembri. ANd when an 8 year old does it again, change the laws again or remove this ridiculous law completely. We are progressive now. We do not need such laws. The law of hormones is supreme and let God be put inside a tinder box. Let's give in to public outcry immediately and save this boy from prison; instead of giving him a piece of our mind about morality and its responsibilities, and send him packing to prison.

Robert Grech

May 21st 2009, 07:07

All you teenagers dare note look at each other before seeking legal advice. Keep the number of your trusted attorney on your mobile and make good use of it before putting your hand where it should not lay - otherwise you may end up in jail!!!

X'farsa medjokri. Certa genituri ighabuha tal-qaddisin - u nistaqsi x'hadu b'daqshekk hlief irrovinaw hajjet it-tifla taghhom!!

Joe Xuereb

May 21st 2009, 02:38

I speak as a homosexual man. From close observation, I have noticed that many young women (but by no means all) instinctively learn - helped, no doubt by continuous admiration from all around the minute she is born. She learns very quickly that she has a very strong card to play. And play it to the hilt she does. This is called female sexuality.
The boy too is cooed over in his pram and for a little while after. Thereafter, he is left to his own devices. With the result that come the age of sexual awareness, his dealings with female sexuality is awkward and gauche. So generally speaking, the woman, even at this young age, learns to use her resource as a weapon. If nothing else because she knows she is not on a level with a man. If things go wrong she is left holding the baby. Confronting all this, the boy is usually confused and confounded. He is gauche. In this respect, he is younger, less mature than the girl. It is unfortunate that some boys get to force themselves on a young girl. Somehow I get the feeling that this was not one of those instances.

Annalise Farrugia Bennett

May 21st 2009, 01:09

The problem is here both the girl and the boy knew what they were doing it takes two to tango. Both should know that having sex under 16 is 'illegal' so why did he trust her; as everyone is accusing this girl of taking advantage of him and provoking him. This idea of women provoking men is something i can never understand both men and women have feelings why should women be able to provoke men and men can't provoke women it is a joke. Kids know that having sex with a minor is illegal and can end up in big trouble for it so they should act responsibly. In this day and age no one cares less. No matter the amount of sexual education lessons most kids don't want to listen unfortunatly.

P Grech

May 21st 2009, 00:47

@ Ms Graham... I'm sorry if this is gonna shock you.. but usually parents that say that they know everything about their children are the ones who know nothing about their children!!!!!!

How can you control a 14 year old? maybe their parents thought that they were at school or at church or who knows where!!!!!

I dont think it is fine for 14 years old to have sex.. the problem here is another one.. the need of sex education in our schools!! ... from a young age.. but oopps that can't happen because of the church!!!

Chris Farrugia

May 21st 2009, 00:28

next step will be the State founding some form of Gestapo or SS section to hunt down the "perpetrators" of underage single mothers. And we could also open the inquisition palace too.. why not? Let's stop playing holier than god attitude. Wake up, 25% of births come from single mothers.

h galea

May 21st 2009, 00:10

The girl should not gone in the first place, more so to his room if so. Even behind closed door should cause alarm that he is up to some move. Teens sex is one thing and getting pregent you had it for life.No one is against both but they don't mix at your age........Mr Ellul the last craze is the moble sending images to him, what would one expect.

G Falzon

May 20th 2009, 23:00

I am curious to know what would have happened if the boy was 14 and the girl 16. Mind you, we are saying that both consented. More still, what would have happened if both were 14 or both were 16? I expect common sense!

Michael Spiteri

May 20th 2009, 22:49

Most of us did it with a girlfriend of that age so why not prosecute us all?

Joseph E Briffa

May 20th 2009, 22:16

14 year-old girls don't play with dolls anymore. They are physically and psychologically mature and are more than familiar with the facts of life. Most have studied biology and are familiar with the reproductive system; and that is as it should be. Those with steady boyfriends usually go out with boys of 18 or 20; not with 16 year olds as the girls find those boys immature. Secondly the girls prefer a boyfriend who drives a car as they find it more comfortable than petting and necking on a beach. Girls mature earlier than boys, about two years ahead. Girls play the leading role and know the ropes when it comes to seduction. I was always taught that a boy goes as far the girl lets him. I find it very odd that the girl went to tell her mother about her goings-on unless she either discovered that she became pregnant or that she caught her boyfriend cheating and she wanted the full pound of flesh. I refuse to believe that the mother would have gone to the police to inform them that her 14 year-old is becoming intimate with her 16 year-old boyfriend. It just doesn't make sense.

jennifer soames

May 20th 2009, 22:08

There is a very simple psychological explanation for the mother's behaviour - but i cannot possibly point it out and hope the Times would publish it. Think about it - why would the mother complain to the police that her daughter is having sex? why would an adult make such a fuss when she finds out her teenage daughter is sexually active?

malcolm spiteri

May 20th 2009, 22:02

"I know where my teenagers are 24/7, who they are with and what they are up to."

...this must be one of the most naive statement I ever heard! What an illusion!!!

Therese Vella

May 20th 2009, 21:53

The girl must be really embarrassed with her mother. Daughters need to have mothers who can sit down and talk to them not rush off to the police station and report the whole case and let it go public. Normally, a fourteen year old girl should know how to say NO to a boy (unless of course this girl is mentally challenged - in which case the mother is justified, but there is nothing in the report to indicate this.)

Joe Fenech

May 20th 2009, 21:21

A minor corrupting a minor??? UNHEARD OF except in this Ayatollah state!

ONLY IN MALTA!

edwin formosa

May 20th 2009, 20:54

it seems many commentators are not parents with children but some sort of couples fostering pets for which neither civil nor moral laws exist..

Clive Gerada

May 20th 2009, 20:41

Let it be... They should learn to control themselves like most people do!

edward bartolo

May 20th 2009, 20:33

@Ms P Graham
If you examine their bodies you will certainly conclude, that they are neither girls nor boys: they are youths. I am sorry to tell you that, if you are not convinced by what is visible, how can anyone convince you otherwise? Moreover, denying the obvious, is not at all a sign of maturity!

What children need is education, rather than supervision. You cannot supervise them everywhere and all the time! Besides that, there are various temperaments: some are submissive and some are rebellious. How can you "control" a son with a rebellious character, apart from genuine education?

Bill Khan

May 20th 2009, 20:22

This is definitely a sad story. Poor boy, ruined for a bit of intimacy which has inflicted man kind since a long time and continues to plague it despite attempts to eradicate it through enacting laws and religious edicts.

I feel sorry for the boy and to also for the girl. Their hormones should be blamed not them.
Bit of educational counselling for both would have been better than the probation.
Laws and sanctions may curtail the 'intimacy' but not put a stop to it.

To be honest nothing can. Not even stonning to death. Such is the power of the intimacy hormones.

Antoine Zammit

May 20th 2009, 20:08

He who never sinned, is who has to throw the first stone... Never judge a book by its cover. So tired of the bigotry of certain ppl...

A Attard

May 20th 2009, 20:01

Girls mature earlier PYHSICALLY, not necessarily mentally. These are both immature kids; yet no one even seems to bother whether they used protection. Instead of taking either of them to court, they should be receiving some proper sex education in addition to proper supervision. This should be treated as a health issue considering that teen-age sex is a health hazard.

V.Battistino

May 20th 2009, 19:57

...and I invite all to visit our beaches this summer and count the numerous teenagers playing 'intimacy' at neck level in the seas that grace our sandy beaches......where are the parents ? do they know that these kids are playing with fire underwater ? It is becoming almost embarrasing for parents with nine and ten year olds to venture on these public beaches when they can witness such scenes by young people everyday......I invite all to visit Ghadira and Pretty Bay (B'Buga)......and then we cry pity !!

Such acts on land are considered a 'crime'...isn't it about time we extend the watchful eyes on our beaches also ! the behaviour of these kids makes us all look 'primitive' at times.......

B Briffa

May 20th 2009, 19:52

P Graham - Thank God I'm not your child then.

Miriam Ellul

May 20th 2009, 19:17

I think it takes two to tango! Young girls have the habit to do this. First they are intimate with their boyfriends...perhaps even seduce him......then when they suspect pregnancy...or the chance of being so, they play the victims! To the mother I say, their are no 'quiet' or 'innocent' girls....there never were anyway ... ! They all know what they're doing ... so it's better if we teach our children how to face facts rather than put the blame on others! It's a shame if the boy's conduct will be ruined for such a minor 'crime'!! After all no one knows what happened! What if she seduced him? Should she be charged? This is all part of growing up! A mother should teach her children how to behave and take precautions. We all know that they are going to experiment someday or another....after all we were all young one day! As I always say this is my humble opinion :)

Joseph Schembri

May 20th 2009, 19:13

NOT being 'intimate' with another person when one's hormones are pumping is the unnatural thing to do.

Our age of consent laws should be immediately changed to reflect reality. Not just today's reality but that which has existed since Mankind has walked this planet.

Our abnormally high age of consent of 18 is ruining people's lives like this poor young man. In nearby Italy - 60 miles away the age of consent is 14. And ours is by far the highest in Europe.

Legislators what are you waiting for? The law as it stands is not being used to protect anyone but for personal vendetta!

When I was a 20 year old university student I had a girfriend of 15 and as we say in Maltese 'kienet iddahalni fil but u tohrogni'.

M.Ellul

May 20th 2009, 19:10

I think it takes two to tango! Young girls have the habit to do this. First they are intimate with their boyfriends......then when they suspect pregnancy...or the chance of being so, they play the victims! To the mother I say, their are no 'quiet' or 'innocent' girls....there never were anyway ... ! They all know what they're doing ... so it's better if we teach our children how to face facts rather than put the blame on others! It's a shame if the boy's conduct will be ruined for such a minor 'crime'!! After all no one knows what happened! What if she seducted him? Should she be charged?

Ms P Graham

May 20th 2009, 18:46

@edward bartolo
you wrote:
"Go to a secondary school and try to convince them against their feelings then! I wish you succeed! GOOD LUCK!"

Somebody best make an effort to do so and soon, because if this sort of behavior is accepted as the norm then I must be living on another planet. There seems to be more concern that this boy may now have a criminal record than teaching our children that this is just WRONG!!

I know where my teenagers are 24/7, who they are with and what they are up to. It's not difficult, it's called parenting and I sure as hell wouldn't be allowing my 14 year old to be spending alone time with a 16 year old (Not because I don't trust them, but because it is just not necessary) so yes I absolutely blame the parents who encourage/allow this behavior and as I said earlier, holding the parents accountable may have been a better punishment.

Mark-Anthony Fenech

May 20th 2009, 18:35

what is the age of consent - that is when persons can legally have sex? Is it 18 or 16?

M. Mifsud

May 20th 2009, 18:29

It's not the law that will stop youngsters from exploring their sexuality prematurely, but early and proper sex education!

Sandro Rapinett

May 20th 2009, 18:13

Dear Ian Christie
You never noticed that this island always searched for the best possible way to be (or look.....!!) holier than the pope!!?

Justin Zammit Fiorentino

May 20th 2009, 17:53

These things usually happen in Iran and Afghanistan and should not happen in a democratic state like Malta (although to be fair in those countries the subjects below would be stoned to death).

Then we tend to see those countries as being "lura". With such a stupid law as this I wonder whose the "lura".

Ruining a 16year old's police conduct only because he had sex with a teenage girl not much younger than him and also consensual...and we dont know who seduced who.

Gente bigotta!!...as if we're a country of virgins!!! morality is a thing and crime is another thing...they did it in a private place not in public so i dont know whose morality they were offending!!

ian Christie

May 20th 2009, 17:45

@ F X Grima and others with similar attitudes.
I don't know how old you are but IF i'm not mistaken in the " good old days " when our sacred island was pure and morally pristine , kids used to be married by 18 , with a couple of children and more on the was. Wife beating was condoned , and unmarried mothers were outcasts.
And it's pretty normal for teenagers experiment sexually . The problem is that in our prude island the is a lack of proper sexual education including awareness on safe sexual practice.

edward bartolo

May 20th 2009, 17:37

Ms P Graham wrote:
"and if a child had been conceived? These are children we are talking about. A 14 year old girl shouldn't even be thinking about having sex at this age and the sooner it is made a criminal offense for youngsters of both sexes and their parents held accountable for this promiscuous behavior the better!"

Go to a secondary school and try to convince them against their feelings then! I wish you succeed! GOOD LUCK!

It is useless to live in a utopia. These are sexually mature, therefore the law should take that into consideration. Moreover, at age 15, the human brain is fully grown and mature... only experience lacks.

Trying to treat youths like children is not the right attitude. Youths take it as an offence, and I don't blame them! It is better to educate them about sex and what responsabilities it carries with it, rather than, trying to treat them like toddlers.

JButtigieg

May 20th 2009, 17:14

This is ridiculous.
If this thing were to happen every time a 16-year old boy and a 14-year old girl 'get intimate', I bet there wouldn't be many 16-year old boys left around in Malta.
Mind you, I'm not saying I agree with what they did.

A. Tabone

May 20th 2009, 16:41

Exactly M.Mifsud.... could it be that the female provoked him into the act , and then reported him as payback for some other reason like another girlfriend? I am not trying to defend the boy here but talking about possibilities.

J Adam

May 20th 2009, 16:40

I guess that's the last time the girl opens up to mother about sex.

M Aquilina

May 20th 2009, 16:32

@ Mr A. Muscat

The law and morality are separate worlds and that's how it should be. An immoral act (by someone's standards) should not necessarily be deemed an illegal/criminal act.

Kaydee Zammit

May 20th 2009, 16:31

@ Paul Barrett
I had mentioned it, but perhaps he will not be put on the Register, so it is still unclear as for now. This is ridiculous, though. He didn't rape the girl, she fully consented!

M. Mifsud

May 20th 2009, 16:21

Poor boy! Nobody knows for sure what happened! Did he "convince" the girl to accompany him, or was it the other way round?

A. Muscat

May 20th 2009, 16:17

@ Trevor Mallia
‘" who is without sin throw the first stone"
Is this all what you know from the Bible?
Did Jesus teach irresponsible sex or adultery? These are Anti-Christ acts I am afraid.

I am sure Jesus is not happy to see 99.9 of his follower females having sex at the age of 14 or 15 years.
Jesus is not happy to see teenager pregnant mothers.
Jesus is not happy to see a virgin girl has become news (Last year Xarabank programme interviewed a virgin young lady!).
Jesus is not happy to see 25-30 % of Christian born babies are either of unknown fathers or out of wed-lock.

All this is happening because we have replaced our values with reckless and irresponsible pleasure. This is a clear self-destruction to our society.

K. Vella

May 20th 2009, 16:04

@James De Giorgio

Granted, it's an arcane law from 1929, but yes, the age of consent in the Vatican City State is 12. Read the last paragraph:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ni/2008/12/vatican_opposes_un_declaration.html

Is a BBC-vetted source reliable enough for you?

Scott MacDonanld

May 20th 2009, 16:01

Hey mum, shame on you and it's about time that you grew up!

Paul Barrett

May 20th 2009, 15:40

I am surprised that of all the comments below, no one has mentioned the "Sex Offenders Register" which crops up in comments now and then.

It is just such a case as this that would end up on the so called register and destroy this young mans life forever.

Ramon Casha

May 20th 2009, 15:25

Since both are minors (ie, under the age of 18), then one could say they are both guilty of corrupting a minor.

@W Spencer: No, the laws in Malta say it is illegal to have any kind of sex with someone under the age of 12, and that it is illegal to corrupt someone under 18. However, what does "corrupting" mean? Sex is presumably included but what about fondling? What about french kissing? What exactly is permitted? Keep in mind that this applies to anyone between 12 and 18 - so they could have been two 17½ year-olds. Is it still corrupting if they've already done it before? The article describes it as "intimacy", which is equally vague.

Kaydee Zammit

May 20th 2009, 15:21

People do much worse nowadays and get the same sentence as the boy. Why is he a sex offender all of a sudden when the girl consented? Why was she "corrupted" if she fully and willingly participated in the "corruption"? The boy was underage as well! And even if he wasn't, girls of 14 nowadays are much, much different from girls of 14 of thirty years ago. This shouldn't happen. The boy is getting a tainted record just because the girl most probably spun the story to her mother in order to avoid getting punished. The boy is being discriminated against just because he is a boy, doing what 16 year olds all over Malta are doing nowadays!

Marianne Mercieca

May 20th 2009, 15:20

@ Sarah Attard
"Are we really going to draw parallels with this young boy, and people such as this? http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20090508/local/man-who-rented-rooms-to-prostitutes-gets-two-years-probation"

You made such a valid point!! Oh we really live in a mickey mouse country.

James De Giorgio

May 20th 2009, 15:10

Miguel Micallef, I dunno about the Vatican age of consent thing since you got it from wikipedia, an EXTREMELY unreliable source seeing as I could log in and type the Vatican's age of consent at 62...

As a matter of fact I don't believe it. It's obvious that whoever typed it in wanted to have a laugh at the Vatican's expense or worse, defame them.

Marie Galea

May 20th 2009, 15:08

Re A Farrugia's comment.... quite right, and this is where the problem lies. The rules cannot be bent for one boy who was involved in consensual intimacy, as it may lead to people doing things and later claiming they were consensual when they weren't. It gets too complicated.

However I do think there should be more of an awareness amongst teenagers with reference to legal age. With subjects such as this being such a taboo in Maltese society, some teenagers are, I'm sure, entirely unaware of the possibility of ending up with a criminal record as the result of some consensual romp.

At the end of the day, the fact remains that at 14, girls are sexually mature (physically if not emotionally). This cannot be controlled by law. I will also add that from personal experience and that of several friends, although this is a vast generalisation, it is often the girl who is the 'instigator' and not the boy. It is very easy though for any blame to be pinned on the male.

Sarah Attard

May 20th 2009, 15:06

@ F.X Grima

There is a difference between 1) promoting and encouraging sexual behaviour amongst teens, and 2) being realistic about that fact that this is what teenagers do, and in fact have done for decades. The majority of these comments are realistic, in that they accept that it is natural for teenagers to want to experiment. Burying our head in the sand with regards to this reality accomplishes nothing. What we must do is accept that young people will want to experiment - and raise them in such a way that they are educated and have the tools to make wise decisions in these areas for themselves.

A Abela

May 20th 2009, 15:05

How stupid it is to have the highest age of consent in Europe. Who wrote the law?

Paul Vella

May 20th 2009, 15:03

In my opinion they were acting out their God given sexuality. What's wrong in that? It's a case of man versus nature. Once again. Go on people: Heed nature's calling and get rid of all these social shackles which are only meant to manipulate and imprison.

Just my kind of girl and boy!

Franco Farrugia

May 20th 2009, 14:50

What absolute foolishness is this?
Was the girl raped? Was she forced?
Who went where in the first place?
The mother should have done something else, other than lodge the report! She should have started beating her breast - mea culpa, ... - endlessly.

R Axisa

May 20th 2009, 14:43

Since the girl gave her consent to get intimate with her boyfriend, the girl's parents should have given a lesson to their daughter, not penalise her boyfriend just for the reason that they are underage. This is one of the reasons why we have a free for all society, as parents do not accept the fact that their child is wrong, and try to blame others for the wrong their child has done. As this was not a rape, the girl was to blame as well. Parents should take the responsibility of their children who are underage, the girl should have been taught to be careful not to get intimate with boys since she was still underage. Being a complice with a criminal (if we can say that the boy is a criminal) is a crime as well.

Sarah Attard

May 20th 2009, 14:40

Are we really going to draw parallels with this young boy, and people such as this? http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20090508/local/man-who-rented-rooms-to-prostitutes-gets-two-years-probation

Miguel Micallef

May 20th 2009, 14:38

To comment directly on this case, we should be ASHAMED about what we are doing to this poor kid.

He's doing what's totally natural to do, and yet he' being treated as a criminal?

What sort of world are we living in?

Everyone that agrees with what's going on should really stop and think about life.

Sarah Attard

May 20th 2009, 14:34

"The girl told her mother what happened..." I am under the impression that very few girls would have consensual sex and then run and tell their mothers all about it. I find it far more likely that the young girl was caught out, and turned the tables out of fear of getting into trouble herself. This is just conjecture, but it would be typical of a society which is so reluctant to speak openly about such issues and provide the necessary sex education to our youngsters. People that age are curious, and if we don't provide the necessary information, they will seek it themselves (possibly from the wrong channels) or experiment for themselves.

I find this to be discriminatory to say the least... a 14 year old girl and a 16 year old boy would generally be of the same maturity level, and both are minors. Not to mention that the act was CONSENSUAL. Why should one be considered 'corrupted' and a victim, whilst the other is given two years probation?

Miguel Micallef

May 20th 2009, 14:29

Age of consent in Vatican city - 12. Now if anyone wants to say that the Vatican is morally against Christ's teachings - go ahead!

'Nuff said.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ages_of_consent_in_Europe#Vatican_State

J Farrugia

May 20th 2009, 14:25

please dear experts of morality can you quote me article and verse of your high ground morality which accepts the fact that minors may corrupt each other and be let off with a golden medal and ;childrens' allowance for the new born kid. This is the new poverty which we are talking about. Mind you not poverty but a ploy to get state aid for corrupting each other. And then the boy leaves the girl since he is just a kid. So much for these experts' high moral ground. Vox pop is not vox dei. It used to be but not in today;s world. Vox pop is just what it is....****.

R. Gatt

May 20th 2009, 14:25

While not going into the merits of this case, such an incident should give food for thought to all those parents and educators who fail to provide their kids, at the right time in their childhood, with an proper sex-education, stressing on the risks involved in engaging in sexual activities at a premature stage in their life. I definitely agree that this case shouldn't be deemed as a crime, yet what I am hinting here is that sexual education should be introduced at an early stage in a teenager's life so as to avoid unwarranted circumstances. Prevention is better than cure! And education is certainly a key to prevention.

A Farrugia

May 20th 2009, 14:17

According to Maltese law, a 16 year old has the generic intent of will and understanding. She is under age and thus he was guilty with the offence of defilement of minors. In the offence of defilement of minors, the law states that the active subject can be whoever, and therefore can be a major, a minor, a male and a female.In this case the active subject is a minor and thus guilty.

J Galea

May 20th 2009, 14:15

I agree with all your comments, but i guess the law is the law and if the mother reported it to the police they have to abide by the law.

W Spencer

May 20th 2009, 14:13

@ a abela Not all girls are as mentally mature, as they are physically, so the law is there to protect the vulnerable.

The law states that it is a criminal offence to have intercourse with a girl under 16 years old. So until the law is changed, the perpatrator is carrying out a crime.

We cannot choose which laws we want to break, otherwise it would be anarchy.

Trevor Mallia

May 20th 2009, 14:13

OH COME ON!!!!!

I agree with A. Tabone totally. I laugh too when I remember my youth years. This girl's mother should look more at her self to see why her daughter did it, instead of trying to blame another youth like her daughter.

At the end of the we can quote the words of our lord Jesus Christ who, when seeing a crowd who wanted to judge an alleged prostitute, said " who is without sin throw the first stone"

Josianne Cardona Gatt

May 20th 2009, 14:11

The law needs an upgrade in these matters... it is not a clear and fast rule for in today's age inferences cannot be drawn from the fact that one is 16 and the other is 14... there is much more into it which goes beyond the legal codes. Even courts have admitted that things must be looked at outside the box sometimes, and this wasn't stated in a recent case but a case going back to the 70s. I don't think the girl was that innocent, for as you state probably the girl new much more what was happening then anyone else. Her parents should have thought it wise before resorting to court... they tainted a teenage's life.

joseph camilleri

May 20th 2009, 14:06

The police should have arraigned the mother of the "victim" for failing in her role of mother to teach her daughter in good time.

Joseph Mallia ex pat

May 20th 2009, 14:05

Why is that its always the male that is at fault, i mean a 14 year old has a mind of her own surely, please correct me if i'm wrong.

Ms P Graham

May 20th 2009, 14:05

Dare I ask what happened to the girl as she is just as guilty? Further to that question, what happened to the Parents?

The Parents should be the ones up before the judge for not knowing where their children were and what they were doing.

@edward bartolo

and if a child had been conceived? These are children we are talking about. A 14 year old girl shouldn't even be thinking about having sex at this age and the sooner it is made a criminal offense for youngsters of both sexes and their parents held accountable for this promiscuous behavior the better!

It takes a lot to shock me but the comments here have succeeded. Let children be children for these precious years and stop encouraging them into adulthood before their time.

Alex Coppola

May 20th 2009, 13:48

Why was the girl not charged as well? She accepted the boy's intimacy so she is equally to blame - both are minors.

Ronnie Gauci

May 20th 2009, 13:38

Many are commenting here but I ask you one simple question, if that 14 year old girl was your daughter would you be commenting the same? I'm an not against teenagers kissing each other even though at 14 she's closer to being a baby than a woman, but if sex was involved then it's a whole different matter.

Unluckily in Malta many girls are caught pregnant at that age and still no steps are taken against the fathers, their baby then will most probably be listed as having an unknown father and all of us will be contributing from our taxes for his well-being for good part of his life. I suggest that for the mother to receive social benefits the father has to be exposed and he'll have to pay not us.

Joseph Arevalo

May 20th 2009, 13:33

We are never going to stop kids from experimenting with sex at an early age. We can teach boys and girls about sex, how to avoid unwanted sex, having safe sex or having no sex at all. But, let's also teach parents how to talk to their children about these matters, so14 year old girls or boys can better control their instincts and stay out of situations, which once aroused, they are unable to stop; at this moment who is thinking about what they are doing? The thinking by one or the other should have happened earlier, before they went home. Now it's too late to be thinking clearly. It is after all how we are programmed; to have sex. Remember? BTW: Punish rape to the fullest.

Norbert Bugeja

May 20th 2009, 13:26

I agree with Mr Tanti.....if the ages were 16 yr old the female and 14 year old the boy probably the girl's conduct would be intact

Leonard Gauci

May 20th 2009, 13:25

Oh to be 16 again.

icilia

May 20th 2009, 13:24

what a farce..

and what a waste of time and money... a court case based on consentual sex..

a conduct ruined becasue of something that is becoming a somewhat common thing nowadays... and before as well when marriage age was at 15 years or even younger...

F X Grima

May 20th 2009, 13:24

Why not have a free-for-all society?

The comments below seem to favour this attitude.

Malta is morally withering away.

C.Car

May 20th 2009, 13:24

@ K Tanti

Article 203 of the Criminal Code does not specify whether the agent should be an adult or a minor, therefore it is presumed that the agent could be any person of either sex. Had the girl been 16 in this case and had consensual sex with her 14 year old friend then she would have been guilty of '' defilment of minors'' just the same.

Our legislators feel that due to the sexual innocence and young age of the victim, carnal connection (sex) in such a situation should be punished and considered obscene. Whether this is justified or not is a matter of opinion. However I think that the thought of having initmate connection with a 14 year old is sick, irrespective of the age of the agent.

J.Grech

May 20th 2009, 13:24

@ A. Tabone: Since the boy has been put on probation, then provided that he abides by the conditions of the probation order and does not commit another criminal offence during this period, then this would not appear on his criminal conduct.

@ K. Tanti: According the law, it is possible for a girl to be arraigned for having consensual sex with a minor even if she is herself a minor.

Charles J. Buttigieg

May 20th 2009, 13:18

How can a minor corrupt another minor? If a girl of 17 becomes intimate with a boy of 16 would she be charged for corrupting a miner? Since this encounter was consensual between two miners and both parties ' corrupted ' each other, why is the boy being charged and the girl isn't?

Joseph E Briffa

May 20th 2009, 13:18

The mother needs to be 'educated' and when she is, she should educate her daughter. The mentality of a 14 year old girl is practically the same as that of a 16 year old boy. Girls mature earlier. Her mother should have known this. We used to love playing doctors and nurses with our female cousins at the age of 9 if not earlier..and we used to get intimate.

Christopher Camilleri

May 20th 2009, 13:15

U ejja come on!! If they ruin the conduct of this 16 year old boy on such a trivial issue .... shouldn't they have already ruined the conduct of the many minor single mothers and (unknown) fathers???

a abela

May 20th 2009, 13:08

This is not a crime...we should remove this nanny state ideologies

Kevin Zammit

May 20th 2009, 13:08

@K Tanti.

Very good point.

My guess is we would not have heard about the case because the parents would have thought it is only natural for the boy to do something like that ... the law cannot replace proper parenthood.

edward bartolo

May 20th 2009, 13:06

Shall we condemn nature for allowing these "kids" to develop sexually before the golden age of 18?

This law should be upgraded. Human beings don't turn into an adult overnight!

K Tanti

May 20th 2009, 12:54

Consensual sex between two teenagers. This is not a rape, neither an adult with a minor( both are minors). What if the ages were vice versa? Who will be arraigned in court?

A. Tabone

May 20th 2009, 12:49

A 16 yr old boy's police conduct ruined because of this 'crime' ?? 16 year old people are still kids .... I laugh at myself when I look back at when I was 16yrs and disapprove of my way of thought at that time. It's normal... 16yr old is a transitional period from a kid to an adult.

How can this be classified crime with an age gap of only 2 years? I was always taught that girls mature more quickly than boys, so considering only a 2 yr age gap, probably the girl knew what she was doing more than the 'perpetrator' !!