Girl charged with murdering mother moves to YMCA
An 18-year-old girl who stands charged with murdering her mother three years ago was this morning sent to live at the YMCA by a court.
The court convicted her of breaching bail conditions and stealing €200 and condemned her to three months imprisonment. But since she had already been behind bars, the girl will be moving to the YMCA.
The girl’s 50-year-old mother Theresa Grech had been foun in a pool of blood at her residence in the Mensija area of San Ġwann in February 2008.
After she was charged with her mother’s murder, the girl had been granted bail.
She was subsequently accused of violating the bail conditions and stealing €200.
Defence lawyer Joe Giglio told the court that the girl had been living in a children’s home and it was being claimed that she breached bail when she left the place and was found at a bus stop some time later.
The girl, he said, had gone to visit her mother’s grave.
After this incident, the home did not want her back and her brother offered to take her in.
She lived with her brother for some time but then moved out and rented a place on her own.
But when she could not afford the rent, she stole some €200 worth of mobile phone top-up cards to pay for it.
She was charged with the theft and breaching bail conditions 10 weeks ago, when she was remanded in custody.
Magistrate Antonio Mizzi found her guilty of the charges and jailed her for three months.
However, since she already served her prison term (two thirds of the three months), she will be moving to the YMCA shelter.
4 Comments
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Mr Jonathan Grech
Apr 27th 2011, 17:17
this is such a uniqe case that i wouldnt dare give my oppinion the girl was just 15 when she was accused of murder and all this time where was she staying?
Mr Paul Barrett
Apr 27th 2011, 16:32
This is another case of what on earth is taking the authorities so long to bring this case to trial. It cannot be right to keep people on strict bale conditions for years on end when they may be innocent. Either there is evidence to bring the case to trial or the case should be dismissed.
Mr joe vella
Apr 27th 2011, 16:08
does the ymca shelter offer sufficient security to the other residents?
at 15, the girl was charged of murder, at 18 theft and breaching bail conditions, what is expected to follow?
she obviously needs help, is ymca geared for this? can the rest of society feel comfortable knowing that this character may go on the loose again?
does this decision make proper sense?
Dianne Galea
Apr 27th 2011, 17:29
Mr.Joe Vella, just to let you know, until one is proven guilty one is presumed to be innocent. Secondly it surely transpires to anyone reading the article that this girl needs immediate help rather than condemnation from society btecause somewhere down the line the whole of society has failed her. As regards your questions if YMCA is able to cater for her needs well at least she'll have a roof over her head and does not need to steal to keep it . As regards her psychological needs God only knows were she might find help and peace of mind. Surely there is an agency who targets these needs especially for one who had such a traumatic past.!!!!