Accused of defiling underage girlfriend, now pregnant
A 21-year-old has been charged with defiling and participating in sexual acts with his 16-year-old girlfriend who, a court was told yesterday, is pregnant with his twins.
The man from Siġġiewi, whose name is not being published to protect the identity of the underage girl, was first reported to the police by her parents who declared in court yesterday they would like to renounce all criminal proceedings against him because the situation had calmed down.
However, since the case involves a minor, the police are bound by law to proceed. The man is pleading not guilty to both charges, claiming that the sex was consensual. The case has been put off until October in order to give time to the girl to give birth.
Police Inspector Graziella Muscat prosecuted.
Lawyers Franco Debono and Marion Camilleri were defence counsel.
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Joseph Schembri
Jun 27th 2009, 17:44
Seeing that the lawyer and his customer have filed a not guilty plea I wish Dr. Franco Debono MP to raise this issue in parliament so that our age of consent is lowered. I am sure that he is a man with the strength, logical frame of mind and the moral conviction to carry this change in legislation through.
I have heard of too many lives ruined because of our schizophrenic and anachronistic age of consent laws Perhaps Minister Karm Mifsud Bonnici can help out here.by listening to what back benchers like Dr. Franco Debono are a saying. There are others who are in total agreement.
Dr Paul Sant Cassia
Jun 27th 2009, 13:53
Another point for Mr Joseph Schembri:
You say, and I quote:
" MY vote will go to any politician who has the guts to lower our age of consent law . Dr. Franco Debono is a PN mp and his defense of this case shows me that at least some people in the PN are seeing the light. But when is the legislation going to change??"
Questions:
1. Are your politics restricted to issues of sex with under-16 year olds?
WELL DONE!
2. Why are you so interested in this topic? For personal interest, ideological interest, or what? Do you have a sister or daughter below the age of 16?
3. How old are you?
Dr Paul Sant Cassia (Cambridge)
Jun 27th 2009, 13:43
Dear Mr Schembri,
I think you are being a bit too excessive and missing the point. The law regarding consent is there not so much to act as a brake on the sexual activities of below-16 year olds, but rather on the conduct of adults towards these children: in short to make them reflect that engaging in sex with a 16 year old or even younger may be profoundly disturbing for a young person, especially if (as in this case) the girl becomes pregnant. This is not to deny that teenagers have a sexual life but the consequences of potential reproduction place very young people in charge of babies when they are unable to do so.
Your facile comments on the 'Taliban' nature of our legislation betray a very unreflective and immature attitude. The fact is that girls can reproduce before they are mature enough to deal with this. It is the Taliban who are in favour of child brides, not our society. Contrary to what you assert, most parents DONT want their daughter pregnant at 16, and are not "in vendetta" against the "boyfriend". They just want the girl to have a life!