Waylon Johnston
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.
7 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
Jeremy J Camilleri
Nov 4th 2009, 18:26
T Borg...What has the internet got to do with it?
This girl was allegedly with her uncle, not on the internet.
As for her mother and forgiveness...This mother has been constantly threatened by her own family.
t.borg
Nov 4th 2009, 16:39
jekk din il-persuna tigi misjuba hatja suq stupru vjolenti jista' jehel sa 9 snin habs. jekk jissemma ismu kulhadd ikun jaf min kienet in-neputija. x'se jigri? jekk joghgobkom tridu tkunu fiz-zarbun ta' din l-omm biex tifmu minn xhiex ghaddejja. li tahfer ma jfissirx li hija tapprova li ghamel huha, li se tbiddel xi haga milli sar jew li ma thobbx lil bintha. fic-cirkostanzi naqbel ma' din il-mara li tahfer.
naghti parir lil genituri kollha li ma jhallux lit-tfal fuq l-internet wahidhom ghax dan qed jaghmel hafna hsara minn eta' zghira. naqbel li jigi inventat internet ghat-tfal taht il-hmistax il-sena u mhux kif tikteb xi haga mill-ewwel jirriferik ghal-pornografija.
Mary Falzon
Nov 4th 2009, 11:40
@ P. Abela
"For a mother to forgive someone who rapes her own daughter, irrespective of who ever the rapist happens to be, certainly requires some strength."
Are you kidding me?
This man (her own brother!) allegedly raped her daughter, a defenseless 7 year old child at the time of the abuse, and this woman's reaction is to forgive him? Are you telling me this is a reaction that should be applauded or, even worse, encouraged?
I hope this isn't a case of "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." If the Bible's messages have been stretched and misinterpreted to such an extent that anyone could even THINK that this woman forgiving her brother for these acts is even slightly OK, then maybe Malta needs a break from the constant religious propaganda and a crash course in common sense.
Darby Allen
Nov 4th 2009, 11:05
This woman is not in a position to forgive the rapes! She is a victim in that her family has been torn apart by this disgusting saga, and she can forgive the brother for the pain caused to her, but only the victim of the rapes can forgive the rapist.
justine sultana
Nov 4th 2009, 10:57
To the mother: it takes a brave & courageous woman to stand up to her family in defence of her daughter. Don't give up, your daughter needs your strength. You may have forgiven your brother for his mistakes, but justice must still be done; otherwise what message would you be sending out to others in the same predicament? Keep your head up. You have people praying for you.
To the daughter: only some can truly understand the embarrassment, pain & suffering you have had to endure. We are all proud of you! You and an example to all young girls (and boys for that matter!) out there - show them its ok to speak up, to let parents or a trusted person know what you are going through.Show everyone that the Law will protect the innocent. We all know that this is hard on you and who knows the threats you are having to hear. Don't give up. Many stand behind you!!!
Jeremy J Camilleri
Nov 4th 2009, 10:57
P abela...Forgivenesss hould be the victim's business...rather than her mothers...
P. Abela
Nov 4th 2009, 10:48
For a mother to forgive someone who rapes her own daughter, irrespective of who ever the rapist happens to be, certainly requires some strength. Moreover, to defend a rapist you need a lot of guts!!