Acquitted of raping 14-year-old
A 38-year-old man was today acquitted of raping a 14-year-old girl in January.
Joseph Spiteri was also acquitted of offending public morals.
In her judgment, Magistrate Jacqueline Padovani said the case hinged on the credibility of the alleged victim, whose testimony was riddled with holes and could not be considered trustworthy for several reasons.
The girl and Mr Spiteri, then 29, met on the bus Mr Spiteri was driving on Christmas Eve in 2003.
The girl was friendly and asked Mr Spiteri for his number before she left. She kept in contact with him and told him she was physically abused by her father and once asked him to drop her at a shelter in Gozo.
While at Mount Carmel, the girl told the police that she and Mr Spiteri used to go for a drink at Marsascala and then have sex in his bus.
Magistrate Padovani said that recounting the events that were supposed to have taken place did not evoke any type of emotion from the victim. Her account was incoherent and inconsistent with the information she had given the police, professionals and her parents.
For while she told her father that she had been having sex against her will, she told the police and professionals that she had been a willing partner.
The girl, who suffers from schizophrenia, had made several serious allegations about a number of people, including that her father had sexually abused her since she was four years old, that she was physically abused by both her parents, that her 75-year-old grandmother hit her with a belt and left her hungry and that her occupational therapist also abused her.
The professionals who had been involved in her care were cautious and confirmed that the girl was a good liar.
In spite of her illness, her psychiatrist certified her fit to attend court, plead and testify.
Mark Vassallo and Chris Cardona appeared for Mr Spiteri.
Popular Stories
Update 3: Woman found dead in car,...
Updated: Woman dies in car crash
Carm Mifsud Bonnici resigns after...
Part of Dwejra 'Azure window' collapses
The end of the bar that ‘never closed’
Bundy does not know whether to...
Updated - Jason Micallef demands...
This WAS the night - Kurt makes it...
'No need for early election if PM's...
In Discussion
Updated - Jason Micallef demands...
Gozo tunnel could take 5-7 years to...
CABS remote controlled aircraft shot...
Carm Mifsud Bonnici resigns after...
Joseph Calleja condemns portrayal of...
Updated: Labour would give...
CABS drone shot down
Second group of migrants arrives
Adrian Vassallo in scathing...
34 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
Justin Spiteri
Feb 4th, 00:14
Usually they name the guy ... in this case, name the girl i say ...
Michael Borg
Feb 3rd, 20:58
The girl, who suffers from schizophrenia, had made several serious allegations
so why it took the courts so long , poor guy can't imagine what ordeal he went through , wouldnt be surprised his wife / gf left him at work etc . what now ? as if nothing happened and this poor guy life down the drain !!
Aaron Vella
Feb 3rd, 20:34
Yes that's right, destroy a person's dignity and that's it. Well done courts, you're surely sending the right message. She should pay for the damages.
Peter Galea
Feb 3rd, 20:19
STEJJER NORMALI DAN L-AHHAR MIN NISA U TFAJLIET. META JIGI IPPROVAT LI DAK KIEN KOLLU GIDEB, U ALLURA JKUNU HADU GURAMENT FALZ U GHAMLU RAPPORT IL PULUZIJA FALZ JITILQU IL BARRA BHAL LI KIEKU MA GARA XEJN.TEBBAW GIEH HADDIEHOR, GHAMLULU HAJTU MIZERJA U ANKE FORSI GELLDUH MA MARTU.. MIN JAF KIEKU KIEN IR-RAGEL??? TGHID DIN HI WAHDA MID-DRITTIJIET TAN NISA
Mr Peter Paul Portelli
Feb 3rd, 17:53
are we going to see tomorrow's headlines declaring loud and clear (like we saw with the accusation) this aquittal? and how right was/is Franco Debono MP regarding the amount of label suits.... lets hope this person can regroup himself n his family and look forward... not easy for sure... good luck
B Attard
Feb 3rd, 17:50
Sfortunatament kazi fejn it-taparsi vittma jkun il-giddieb jidher li qed jigru spiss fil-qrati Maltin.Kull ma jigri hu li l-hati jigi liberat u qisu ma gara xejn wara l-martirju li jkun garrab. Peress li ma titihed ebda azzjoni fuq it-taparsi vittma jidhirli li ndirettament il-gustizzja qed tghaddi messagg sabiex tinkoraggixxi dan il-hazen.
Paul Pace
Feb 3rd, 19:12
Jekk mhux vera kien hemm relazzjoni sesswali mhux neccessarjament it tfajla kinet qed tigdeb. Kif spjegat, it-tfajla tbaghti minn kundizzjonijiet ta Schizofrenijja u għalhekk huwa facilment li it-tfajla immaginat li giet abbuzata.... Schizophrenia is about disruptive thoughts and hallucinations... so its so much possible... and in such case, the girl is only sick and not a liar!!!
Still i show sympathy towards her victims. for sure its not nice to be alleged of abusing a minor, when actually nothing is true. Maybe if this girl is in proper care, none of this would have happened.
Having said so, if through psychiatric intervention, it is proven that such reality twist has nothing to do with the mental condition, thus one is making up lies, yes surely one should be made to pay for the trouble caused to the victims and for the police and court's experts waste of time.
Joe Fenech
Feb 3rd, 17:49
Pamela, do you know what schizofrenia is and how it affects people's perception of reality?
Your statements are utterly shocking and are simply preposterous, feminist statements that have gone out of fashion. I don't condone rape on any human, but I'm all for justice, respect of privacy and presumed innocence.
S.M. Cuschieri
Feb 3rd, 17:48
On reading the comments to Pamela Hansen, she is right you know. You are all males talking that is why you are only seeing to the tip of your nose. He should have known better. For christ's sake SHE WAS FOURTEEN!!!! AND SCHIZOPHRENIC AT THAT! Have you all no heart??
Rachel Farrell
Feb 3rd, 21:52
You are assuming that what she is saying is true. Schizophrenic's delusions are often bizarre and persecutory.
Carmelo Aquilina
Feb 4th, 05:52
@ Rachel Farrell
on the other hand they often tell the truth as well
John Dee
Feb 3rd, 17:34
So an innocent man has had this hanging over his head for 8 years? That surely seems to protect the guilty and punish the innocent !
Ramon Casha
Feb 3rd, 17:30
If the child offenders' register had already been in place, would this man's name have been on it since 2003?
A Mifsud
Feb 3rd, 17:26
If the girl was 14, she was much younger than the statutory age of consent, so this man could have easily been charged with defilement or corruption of a minor, especially given the girl's vulnerable situation.
Matthew Dimech
Feb 3rd, 17:06
And why did this girl get nothing? I would have jailed her for destroying that man life. Money does not get your life back for sure.
Pamela Hansen
Feb 3rd, 17:00
He was 29 and she was a vulnerable 14-year-old. That is no miskin.
R. Caruana
Feb 3rd, 17:35
Of course how could he possibly be anything but guilty regardless of what the court says according to you. Miskina!
Andrew Calleja
Feb 3rd, 17:45
So you must be serious seeing as this is your second such comment on this case! Do you honestly believe that all the court experts and the judge are incompetent? Ms. Hansen please stop making a fool of yourself.
Tony Borg
Feb 3rd, 18:45
With your way of arguing, her Father should have been taken to court as well and even earlier. Also the professionals who were already taking care of her. Then with that sentence the alleged Rapist would not have taken to court in the first place and no Mud slinging and family arguments would have taken place either.
Mind you, in other countries Schizophrenic patients are not considered credible and so their accusations are normally checked in depth before any action is taken.
r buttigieg
Feb 4th, 20:41
a man is never a miskin today pamela, on the contrary, there is always understanding and pity for women, whatever they may do.
Frank Borg
Feb 3rd, 16:28
U min jaf kemm nies innocenti spiccaw il-habs fuq akkuzi foloz ta' stupru..... ghallanqas is-sur Spiteri gie lliberat, ghax sab Magistrata li gharfet ssib il- verita, imma ismu ser jibqa mcappas ghax kif qal tajjeb Peppi Azzopardi, kull meta tfittex fuq l-internet ismu jibqa jitla, u ftit ikunu dawk in-nies li jindunaw li dan gie lliberat. Nahseb li haqqu kumpens ghax hajtu giet irrovinata dan, barra min jaf minn xiex ghadda tul dawn it- tmien snin, abli anke l-familja tilef, ma nafx, j'alla li le.
Manuel Camilleri
Feb 3rd, 16:20
A man's life and reputation shattered to pieces.
William Calleja
Feb 3rd, 16:16
Let this be a word of warning to anybody that supports harsh sentences like life and death penalty.
Ramon Casha
Feb 3rd, 17:25
Well said.
Charles Micallef
Feb 3rd, 16:01
....and the innocent man had his name splashed all over Malta , now that is justice in reverse!!!
Adam West
Feb 3rd, 16:25
Too true Charles, hope he gets an apology for any inconvenience caused and duly compensated for brandishing of lies and having to go through this ordeal. Will that happen?......i'd like to think so but there again, i'm a realist
Kenneth Williams
Feb 3rd, 15:58
Allura jmisshom igibu lilha b isimha mela lilu??? Miskin min jaf min xiex ghadda mit 2003 l hawn
twanny borg
Feb 3rd, 17:24
KUMMENT INTELIGENTI NAQBEL MIEGHEK MIN KIENET DIN HALLI NAHARBUHA!!
Peppi Azzopardi
Feb 3rd, 15:48
Niftakar meta harget din l istorja il-media kienet ghamlet storja minnha. Issa instab li dak li kien allegat kien kollu gideb. Izda l hsara saret. Meta xi hadd ifittex fuq l Internet jibqa jitla l-isem tal-persuna akkuzata. Ghalhekk nibqa ninsisti li l-Media ma ghandha ssemmi QATT l ismijiet ta' persuni akkuzati. X niehdu bhala socjeta' billi nkunu nafu x isimhom? Nuri solidarjeta ma' din il-persuna u persuni ohra li tkissru mill-Media ghalxejn.
A. Schembri
Feb 3rd, 16:21
Hemm 4 affarijiet li ma tistax iggibhom lura:
1 il-hin meta jghaddi
2. il-kelma meta nghaduha
3. i-okkazjoni meta nitilfuha
4. il-gebla meta nwaddbuha
f'idejna !
Mr Ernest Vella
Feb 3rd, 15:34
kemm ha jtuh flus tad-danni lil dan il-povru bniedem...tal-misthija!!!
Pamela Hansen
Feb 3rd, 16:59
She was only 14 and a very vulnerable girl. He was 29. No povru.
Andrew Calleja
Feb 3rd, 17:19
@ Pamela Hansen
After a court decision backed up by the evidence of experts within the field I would only expect such comments from a person who thinks he knows it all and believes his opinion is always right. Either that or you're just trying to be funny.
Joe Fenech
Feb 3rd, 17:40
Pamela, do you know what schizofrenia is?
Your statement is utterly shocking. I don't condone rape, but I'm all for justice and not preposterous feminist statements like yours.