Pregnant woman jailed
A 26-year-old pregnant woman who is due within the next three weeks, was today jailed for three months after she admitted breaching bail conditions.
Donna Camilleri broke down in tears when Magistrate Neville Camillri read out the judgment, in which he said that she had to learn once and for all that the courts were not a joke and she could not keep using her pregnancy as an excuse to get lenient judgments.
He pointed out that in August Ms Camilleri was given a suspended jail term for theft. Even then, her pregnancy was taken into account.
Earlier this week she was accused, together with her sister Amanda (who is also pregnant), and another man, of their involvement in breaking into a Gzira shop. In that case she was granted bail against a personal guarantee of €3,000 and on condition that she was indoors by 6pm.
However, on Tuesday, police patrolling the Gzira found her out at 11.55pm.
Today, Ms Camilleri admitted to breaching bail.
Police Inspector Jason Sultana told the court that while Ms Camilleri needed someone to remprimand her, he was not convinced that jail was the right option.
Her problem was that her boyfriend was a bad influence and kept getting her into trouble. She had a drug problem and had been told she could start a rehabilitation programme if her sister dropped out, as there was no space.
Legal aid lawyer Simon Micallef Stafrace said his client needed help and he agreed that jail was not ideal.
However, the magistrate noted that she had been given chances before and had used her pregnancy to get a lighter punishment.
In this case she faced a six-month jail term but she was jailed for three months. Her personal guarantee of €3,000 was not seized.
The magistrate recommended that she be kept at Mt Carmel Hospital and given all the help she needed when the time came to give birth.
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76 Comments
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matthew tanti
Oct 26th 2012, 11:44
as i believe someone has pointed out, maybe this experience will serve to jolt this young woman, to realise that her so-called lover is not interested in her (and his?) baby, and that at 26 her only goal in life is to get money by whatever means to get her next fix. unfortunately unless she changes her circle of friends, i guess any desire to reform will be overcome by a vicious circle.
E Bonnici
Oct 26th 2012, 10:13
Come on! We are all focusing on the irresponsible mother to be, but nothing on the innocent child. Even the place were he/ she will be born - Mt Carmel Hosp, will stick with him for life.
Can't she at least go to Mater Dei or St Lukes - why Mt Carmel? Is she crazy?
However I'm sure that at the hospital she'll fare much better than outside with her irresponsible partner.
Lucienne Dimech
Oct 26th 2012, 06:50
Good please not pity because she is pregnant she should have thought of that before . I only pity the poor child because he/ she is not to blame but I am sure that life won't be easy for him/her.
Anthony Paul Naudi
Oct 26th 2012, 06:32
Min jikser il=ligi jkollu jhallas u xejn aktar.
A.P.Naudi
Anthony Paul Naudi
Oct 26th 2012, 06:29
Hawn hafna ligijiet Malta imma ghal xi raguni dawn mhux qed jaghtu kashom. l-aqwa li tara xi warden bil-magna f'idu ghac-citazzjonijiet jew xi pulizija tat-traffiku mistohbi hdejn xi mina biex jara jekk ghandekx dawl int u diehel fil-mina . Fejn hija il-ligi tal loitering , dik tal-indecent exposure u ohrajn ? Pulizija on foot hemm bzonn kullimkien 24/7
AP.Naudi
svetlana sammut
Oct 25th 2012, 23:56
is soluzzjghax oni mhux l habs ax min got tagen ghal gon nar!! misshom dahluwha programm biex tigi f'sensija ghax zgur li ghanda bzonn apogg u ghajnuna kbira!!
matthew tanti
Oct 26th 2012, 14:52
fil-fatt ma marritx kordin imma mount carmel. apparti min hekk ilhom zmien jinghataw cansijiet u anki probation: jekk riedu zgur li kellhom cansijiet jaghmlu programmi, jekk mhux ga ghamlu.
Josephine Borg
Oct 25th 2012, 23:44
And many get all worked up when gay people express they want to marry and have children. Well well were are they now?? This is only one of many hundred abusing parents in the social care field in Malta. I would rather allow gay people to have/raise kids then people like this person breed and feeding on our taxes - apart from the physiological and psychological damage to the child
Josephine Borg
Oct 25th 2012, 21:56
And many get all worked up when gay people express they want to marry and have children. Well well were are they now?? This is only one of many hundred abusing parents in the social care field in Malta. I would rather allow gay people to have/raise kids then people like this person breed and feeding on our taxes - apart from the physiological and psychological damage to the child
jane galea
Oct 25th 2012, 21:51
Nispera li Peppi jiehu nota u ghada jhabrilna li iffirma petizzjoni mal-haddiema kollha ta Xarabank biex il-kabinett jitlob lil President jtieha il-mahfra.Ma hemmx dubju li dan il-kaz aktar gravi min ta l-ahhar darba.
matthew tanti
Oct 26th 2012, 09:55
this lady is a prostitute, a thief and a forger - and you want a presidential pardon?! i am sure nobody will ask for a presidential pardon, and if they do, that it will not be granted.
matthew tanti
Oct 25th 2012, 20:11
good on you magistrate! it seems her pregnancy did not stop her from prostituting herself and stealing. we are talking about a grown up woman - i am sure she can change her boyfriend when she wants. it is time that people stop using their addictions to get pity - she got it a few months ago but did not learn the lesson.
Anthony A. Mifsud
Oct 25th 2012, 19:34
I fullu agree with this judgment, should the Magistrate was very lenient as he pardoned the Bail deposit of Euro 3000.
That was very posite and it sends a good message to whome might thing that being pregnant will be exempt from prison.
ninu
Malcolm Seychell
Oct 25th 2012, 22:16
Maybe now she will go on xarabank crying and she will get a president pardon... Issa din il moda
Oliver Sammut
Oct 25th 2012, 17:02
If the women is still on drugs the baby has to spend 2monts or more in hospital for detox to clear all the toxins that the mother paseed him , really miskin god knows the bad moments this baby has to pass before he /she detoxificates
Ms. P.M Graham
Oct 25th 2012, 16:39
In this instance perhaps she should have been taken into a secure facility on her first appearance, before the Judge. That may have avoided the birth of a new born addicted to drugs and having to go through the horrors of withdrawal.
S. Zammit
Oct 25th 2012, 16:35
Sfortunatament ergajna bl-istess storja. Mal-hazin jehel it-tajjeb. Infajjru kif gib u lahaq fuq l-ommijiet single. Ma ninbidlu qat!!
Joe Sultana
Oct 25th 2012, 21:29
there is no such thing as a single mother!
S. Zammit
Oct 26th 2012, 07:53
@ Joe Sultana - Enlighten me Mr. Sultana, if a couple has a child out of wedlock and the father decides to walk out, what does that make the mother? (Same goes for the single fathers). We are not talking about financial status here... we are talking about one's responsabilty regarding the child. If a mother raises her children alone, yes, that makes her a single mother! A great one indeed!
leo briffa
Oct 26th 2012, 08:11
Really don't agree with you S. Zammit. where I work single parents have more rights than I do ????
she was asking for it and she got it -- she should have been jail in the first attempt not on her 3rd. this had nothing to do with being a single mother with a boyfriend or two.
manuel Attard
Oct 26th 2012, 08:55
don't be closed minded, unfortunatley yes there are single mothers don't talk if you didn't experienced certain problems in first person.just one example among hundreds. a fooled woman by what she tought to be the love of her life and then when she got pregnant he abbandons her cos he's afraid of resposability.
S. Zammit
Oct 26th 2012, 09:51
@ Leo - Leo dear I am not in any way justifying the acts of the above mentioned, I agree with the law at this stage and this mother needs a good lesson or two. However, the fact that when something regarding single parents comes up, everyone starts pointing fingers and judging is utterly unfair!
S. Zammit
Oct 26th 2012, 09:54
@ Leo - Also, Mr Briffa, as for single parents having more rights than you do at your workplace, well, I think that depends on the regulations of where you work.
Mr John Borg
Oct 25th 2012, 16:21
On drugs while pregnant?
Poor baby
Joe Xuereb
Oct 25th 2012, 16:01
I bet the fathers of these kids are hot-bloodied heterosexuals who can't stand homosexuals. Oh well!
Some need protection from themselves. Help is needed and available. Whether it will work depends on the 'damaged' person. A child brought up in this environment, what chance does it stand?! And each generation gets progressively worse. Problem is 'the haves and have nots'. And the greedy.
Joe Sultana
Oct 25th 2012, 21:27
where did the reference to homosexuals come from?
j dough
Oct 26th 2012, 06:47
mr joe xuereb obviously refers to the law of not letting homosexuals adopt etc a child into their potentially loving and cherishing homes whilst this type of 'hot blooded' male can reproduce at will with mothers who take drugs whilst pregnant , steal and break the law and will give such care and wonderful examples to their offspring.
r buttigieg
Oct 26th 2012, 10:58
@ joe xuereb..Kindly enlighten me with the proof that a homosexual person cannot do drugs,prostitution or stealing. It is across the board.
Andrew Borg Manduca
Oct 25th 2012, 15:53
"Her problem was that her boyfriend was a bad influence and kept getting her into trouble. She had a drug problem and had been told she could start a rehabilitation programme if her sister dropped out, as there was no space."- are they serious?
Kevin Wain
Oct 26th 2012, 08:29
To be honest, I had to read the part about "no space" again because I couldn't believe it. No space? So do I doubt seriousness in this case.
Iggy Vassallo
Oct 25th 2012, 15:48
Why is it that we need a license to own a dog, to drive a car, and catch a fish, but any brainless moron with NO concept of responsibility can be a parent? Strange isn't it???
Mr Tony Gatt
Oct 25th 2012, 19:44
And more than one. Someone on the BBC said today that councils in England can spend £100,000 on one large family on benefits.
Eve Axiaq
Oct 25th 2012, 15:47
Poor baby. Ahjar jitrabba fl-istitut mas-sorijiet fil paci milli f'dik il-hajja ta genn ikrah.
E Bonnici
Oct 25th 2012, 15:30
She and her sister definitely need help as they do not know better it seems. Someone running around in Gzira in her 8th month of pregnancy and in the middle of the night, is definitely in need of help!
G Bencini
Oct 25th 2012, 15:43
Amen to that!!!!!
C Rogers
Oct 25th 2012, 15:23
One Magistrate who is not afraid to put people in Prison... We need more of them.
Ronald Cauchi
Oct 25th 2012, 15:47
If you think she belongs in prison you probably also believe that thieves should have their arms chopped off and blasphemers have their tongue pulled out.
Joe Sultana
Oct 25th 2012, 21:25
No Mr. Cauchi. I also believe that thieves should be in prison, regardless of their condition. They should consider their condition before committing crimes ahainst society.
Jay Oatmon
Oct 25th 2012, 15:19
If this unfortunate woman is stealing to feed her drug habit and exist, then how can she give a personal guarantee of €3,000 - can someone explain this to me?
matthew tanti
Oct 26th 2012, 09:57
someody would have put it up for her.
Michelle Galea
Oct 25th 2012, 15:13
So the DOB on this kid's ID card will be Mount Carmel?
Hazin..
Krystle Arpa
Oct 25th 2012, 15:49
don t be silly child will be born at mater dei. monte carmel is not maternity ward ,
Steve Attard
Oct 25th 2012, 15:52
Its POB not DOB...sry!!
Oliver Sammut
Oct 25th 2012, 16:54
and unkown fater for sure
hazin iktar
S.M. Cuschieri
Oct 25th 2012, 19:53
Oh....and it is the place of birth and not the date of birth you silly thing......
Thomas C. Cassar
Oct 25th 2012, 15:08
"she had to learn once and for all that the courts were not a joke"
No comments
Jason Zammit
Oct 26th 2012, 07:06
Good one Mr. Cassar, I guess we are thinking the same thing...... The court were not a joke hahahahaha .....what are they then ??????
Punching a police office = €60
5 ignorant animals beating up a guy couple of weeks ago = €60
Definitely a joke.......
D Axisa
Oct 25th 2012, 15:00
I hope that no NGO comes fighting for her.....as the magistrate said she's been given lots of chances to rehabilitate but to no avail. These people need to learn somehow.
What comes out most is 2 PREGNANT WOMEN AND A GUY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Peter Shaw
Oct 25th 2012, 14:52
There was a pregnant pause when the judge read the statement
Mr Mike Farrugia
Oct 25th 2012, 14:40
Hello. Xarabank?
Kurt Magro
Oct 25th 2012, 14:38
Ma tisthix din ... l ewwel tisraq u ma tobdiex il qorti ... Proset Sur Magistrat !
MT Caruana
Oct 25th 2012, 14:37
Well done Magistrate Neville Camilleri.
May all follow your example.
Ian Mamo
Oct 25th 2012, 17:15
Reallllly???????
MT Caruana
Oct 26th 2012, 08:46
@Ian Mamo
Being pregnant does't mean a free ticket to stay out of jail. She should thank Magistrate Camilleri, cause now she will have some time to THINK about the new life she has inside of her,a baby a Gift from God.
Wake up lady, we all do mistakes, I hope that as soon as you have your baby you fall in love with that innocent baby, and you are able to start a new life.
Charles J. Buttigieg
Oct 25th 2012, 14:33
This sentence is unjust and goes against the basic principles of human rights as it tantamount to sending an innocent unborn child to prison. Human decency would dictate a period until the child is born and then the accused will serve her prison sentence.
Giov DeMartino
Oct 25th 2012, 15:20
Smajtuha tfaqqa'?
matthew tanti
Oct 25th 2012, 20:12
the fact that she was served with a jail sentence does not mean that she will start serving it immediately.
Charles J. Buttigieg
Oct 25th 2012, 14:32
This sentence is unjust and goes against the basic principles of human rights as it tantamount to sending an innocent unborn child to prison. Human decency would dictate a period until the child is born and then the accused will serve her prison sentence.
A Galea
Oct 25th 2012, 15:34
What makes you say that? A heavily pregnant woman shouldn't be out in Gzira at that time, let alone getting implicated in theft (and not for the first time). Therefore isn't the unborn child safer in prison? At least there she will be monitored, keeping her and her child safe from her own stupidity
Mr John Borg
Oct 25th 2012, 14:23
Another presidential pardon?
Franco Farrugia
Oct 25th 2012, 14:32
Let's not mix up different contexts, please. Mature comments are welcome; others are ...
Jay Oatmon
Oct 25th 2012, 14:19
Drugs are stronger than most people especially the 'mentally weak' people, that is why most addicts (once hooked) can never return to normality.
This lady will probably be in trouble for the rest of her life because of the power of drugs which she will not be able to escape - the problem is the public will also suffer from her thefts/crimes to feed her habit, and keep her pusher rich.
Franco Farrugia
Oct 25th 2012, 14:32
So will her offspring. I would have that baby taken away from her without the mother ever knowing where that baby has been placed! That mother doesn't deserve to have that baby.
Shawn Grixti
Oct 25th 2012, 14:17
Two babies coming into this world with an already unstable situation!!
Kenneth Grima
Oct 25th 2012, 14:54
two are the ones coming, you have to count the ones that they have already.
Ian Mamo
Oct 25th 2012, 14:16
Il Vitma it tarbija.
Mario Vella
Oct 25th 2012, 14:25
il-vittmi jiena u inti,, hallik mill it-tarbija.... ghax jiena u inti irridu inmantnuwha, lilha u l-ommha....
J Micallef
Oct 25th 2012, 14:51
@ Mario Vella - my sentiments exactly! Well said.
Robert Mifsud
Oct 25th 2012, 14:54
Nahseb l-iktar li ha tbati it tarbija. Il-flus ma huma xejn ikumparat ma li ha jiffacjaw t-trabi.
R. Vella.
Oct 25th 2012, 14:56
sfortunatament ghandek ragun sur Vella.
Pauline Busuttil
Oct 25th 2012, 15:06
Miskina it-tarbija..... u mhux l-omm. F'dan il-kaz ma naqbilx jekk tinghata l-mahfra presidenzjali.
Il-probabbilta hija li dawn it-tip ta' nies qatt ma jitghallmu. J'Alla issib minn jghejna lillha u lill ohta.
S Vella
Oct 25th 2012, 15:06
Il-missier tat tarbija x'minnhu? Xieraq imantnijhom hu lil martu u lil wild tieghu....jekk mhux unknown.
S. Zammit
Oct 25th 2012, 16:36
@ Mario Vella - Prosit! Il-verament taf tithadded! "Hallik mit tarbija?" u hallina Mr.Vella!!
Ian Mamo
Oct 25th 2012, 17:14
B Kull rispett Mr Vella, Pero tarbija ma titwieledx bil hazen, il familji u l kumpanijja jhassru in nies. Nassigurak li kont cert meta ghadt li il vitma, it tarbija. Hasra li l ewwel ftit gimaghat ta hajjieta ha tkun minajr omma.
Hossam Helwani
Oct 25th 2012, 14:13
the single mother convention is very active recently
Matthew Pace
Oct 25th 2012, 15:02
Single mother and unknown father, all very convenient, for financial gains
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