Updated - A court expert, Dr Marisa Cassar, said today that she had found semen on the clothes of an Italian woman who was allegedly raped by two Somali men at Hal Far last month.
Giving evidence in the rape case against Abdiraman Abukar and Liban Mohamud, both 26 of Floriana, she said she analyzed the victim's clothes and tested positive for semen of the two accused.
DNA belonging to Abdiraman Abukar was found under her finger nails.
Charles de Flavia, 62, said he lived with the two accused and another two men and he let them use his car, a grey Kia Mentor.
He said that on the night in question, the two Somalis had returned home at about 4 a.m.
Abdiraman Abukar told him that 'they' had had sex with the victim three times. Liban said nothing.
Mr de Flavialater then changed his reference to 'they' to 'he' with reference to Abdiraman Abukar.
Magistrate Peralta warned him to tell the truth as he was under oath.
Mr de Flavia said that Abukar told him that he had grabbed the woman by the throat and assaulted her.
At this point Magistrate Carol Peralta told him that he had a feeling that the witness was trying to protect Liban Mohamud. He ordered that he be kept in the lock-up for 15 minutes to reflect, because his change of the word "they" to the singular gave a new meaning to the case.
When the sitting resumed, the witness said he was saying the truth.
The Magistrate ordered that he should be kept in the police lock-up for 48 hours and investigated. If the police believed that he was lying under oath, proceedings should be taken against him.
A short time later Mr de Flavia apologised to the court and confirmed that the word which had been used by Abdiraman Abukar was the plural 'they'.
The Magistrate then ordered his release.
See also http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20130330/local/Two-deny-raping-Italian-woman.463400