Woman forgives brother for 'raping' her daughter
AG's lawyer objects to question by defence
A woman yesterday forgave her brother for allegedly raping her seven-year-old daughter, adding that he had made a big mistake and had caused many problems to the family.
Testifying in the trial, she also admitted to asking her daughter to tell the police she did not want to press charges against her uncle because the allegations had split the family. The incident had caused many problems within the family she said. "I couldn't go to my mother's house because my brother was there.
"It had a big effect on us all. We have broken all ties and everyone is against me because I stuck by my daughter and not my brother.
I've become a broken woman over these past four to five years. It's been terrible. Even today I'm still suffering".
Eventually, however, her daughter, who, aged 12, raised the alarm about her alleged rape, insisted with her mother that she was telling the truth about her uncle and if she (her mother) did not want to help her then she would go to the agency Appoġġ.
The mother gave in at that point and the investigations went ahead.
The 27-year-old uncle, who was 17 years old at the time of the alleged rape, always vehemently denied the allegations and called his niece a crazy liar when he was questioned by the police.
When Mr Justice Joseph Galea Debono yesterday asked the woman whether she wanted to continue with the court proceedings against her brother, since the girl is now 17 years old and still a minor, she said: "I forgive him today although he made a big mistake and my daughter has to make the decision" (whether to proceed or not).
But even if the mother decided not to continue with the proceedings against her brother or to retract the police report about the incident, the trial would still go ahead because of the serious nature of the charges.
She said her daughter used to spend most Fridays sleeping at her grandmother's house and she had not noticed anything particularly unusual when her daughter returned home twice with a few spots of blood on her panties.
"I took her to the doctor and he told me she was developing early and that it was her period."
During cross examination, prosecuting lawyer Nadine Sant, from the Attorney General's Office, objected to a question by defence lawyer Joe Mifsud.
Mr Justice Galea Debono ordered Dr Mifsud to desist from asking the question and, in turn, the defence lawyer filed an appeal, which is expected to be decided today.
As a result, the trial had to be temporarily suspended until the decision is made.
Names are not being published by court order in order to protect the identity of the victim.