Man jailed four years for rape
Paul Vassallo, 46 of Kalkara was today jailed for four years after being convicted of raping a 17-year-old girl, defiling her and offending public morals.
The case happened on the afternoon of September 24, 2007 in a field at Attard.
Mr Vassallo was a nurse at nearby Mt Carmel Hospital and the girl was an employee.
The court heard how the victim and her boyfriend had on several occasions gone to Mr Vassallo's field to pick grapes.
One day, Mr Vassallo had asked the girl to wash a large fertiliser and pesticide mixing tank, and had raped her while she was in the tank.
In his evidence, Mr Vassallo said the girl had been trying to seduce him by telling him about her previous sexual experiences.
He had thought he would overcome the temptation but he also feared that if he refused her advances, she would call him gay in front of his friends. He said they did not have sex but only casual contact and groping.
Magistrate Jacqueline Padovani found that the version of the accused was not credible and said the court believed the victim when she described how he had forced himself onto her and had sex with her even if it was just for a few seconds.
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Seamus Riolo
Jan 18th, 23:08
So this is malta and what our justice system is saying..
If you want to choose between raping women you like and growing illegal plants you like to use or sell, Choose the first one, RAPE WOMEN!!
Because if you get caught raping women (and if your a little bit inteligent most of the times you would be caught by the first victim like you would get caught by growing the first plant) you get less years in prison and less of a fine then growing cannabis!
Nice message by the court system, Go Rape, Don't grow cannabis :)
Adrian P. Cassar
Jan 18th, 19:10
Because he was found guilty.....before the trial one is presumed innocent, so it is not fair to have your name splattered all over newspaper.
The victim here is not easily identifiable. If she were his niece for example.....it would not have been fair on the victim. If victims fear that they will be identified they would not press charges.
Hope I answered your question.
Pamela Hansen
Jan 18th, 17:57
This is a terrible sentence. Sentences for such crimes need to be reviewed as a matter of urgency.
Considering the much harsher sentences given for far less damaging crimes one can only be appalled at this result.
Mrs Mary Fisher
Jan 18th, 20:25
WHY DO CASES LIKE THIS TAKE SUCH A LONG TIME TO GET TO JUSTICE? WHY, ON SUCH A SMALL ISLAND DOES IT TAKE SO LONG TO FIND OUT WHO IS RIGHT AND WHO IS WRONG? MALTESE LAW IS GOING WRONG SOMEWHERE. WE ALL KNOW THAT THERE ARE TOO MANY LAWYERS IN MALTA - SO, WHY OH WHY THE LONG TIME IT TAKES TO GET JUSTICE? ARE THE LAW COURTS NOT BIG ENOUGH? NOT ENOUGH MAGISTRATES OR JUDGES? SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE URGENTLY IN THE LEGAL SECTOR OF THE ISLAND. IS FRANCO DEBONO RIGHT AFTER ALL?
Steven Cutajar
Jan 18th, 17:39
Definition of LOL - > Laughing Out Loudly
Definition of Maltese Justice - > COL ( Crying out Loudly )
Where are all the women fighting for their rights here? they should all come out and protest on such stupid justice system.
Some questions:
Is the life of a 17yr old person so worthless?
Is the person who's pinning down this sentence human?
Where are values? Human values?
Does this sentence compensate for a lifetime of blurred and unforgetably sad moments experienced by this youg lady?
I'm so disgusted by the Maltese judiciary system... I don't compare this sentence with any other - Marijuana, drugs or anything esle because raping has a class of it's own. You rape somone not just physically but mostly mentally and at such young age, with so much to live in front of you it disgusts me to read that such a light sentence has been given. SHAME SHAME SHAME to all those responsible for pinning down these nonsence laws.
Emma Xerri
Jan 18th, 17:36
Why should a victimless "crime' such as possession of marijuana for personal use be punished so harshly, yet for the crime of rape one gets only 4 years?
Something is not right here.
Vince Cachia
Jan 18th, 16:35
SOME PEOPLE ARE MENTIONED BY NAME OTHERS ARE NOT...CAN ANYBODY EXPLAIN WHY OH WHY???
Timothy Cachia
Jan 18th, 15:47
Don't do drugs... just rape people...
This is the message marketted by the justice department.
Mr Ernest Vella
Jan 18th, 15:42
ghal 4 snin worthed tghid le? Dawn tal-qorti vera cajtiera!!!
Joseph Calleja
Jan 18th, 15:42
What about compensation for pain and suffering to the victim? It seems that people only listen when you dig into their pockets.
William Calleja
Jan 18th, 17:02
Going from what the commenters often post over here, if the victim tries to claim any money from the rapist, people will start agreeing that "she hasn't really been raped" and "she's in this only for the money".
J lanzon
Jan 18th, 15:34
7 years for 1.4kg Cannabis
4 Years for Rape
10 years for 2 plants
We're not blind.
A D'Ascola
Jan 18th, 16:30
We re nearly getting there.....reaching Pakistan
Daniel Gordon
Jan 18th, 15:13
4 years for rape.
10.5 years for some plants.
Logical and understandable.
This is Malta.