A court heard this afternoon how a Guinean man threatened to punch a woman if she did not let him have sex with her.  

The attack happened just after 3am on December 15, as the woman was walking to her car after an evening with friends. 

The 23-year-old female victim said she was threatened by Seykou Ballde in Paceville.

Seykou Ballde

Mr Ballde, 22, is denying charges of rape, violent indecent assault, resisting arrest and escaping from police custody.

He had escaped from the St Julian's police station soon after his arrest, with the police saying the handcuffs were too loose. He was re-arrested a few days later in Bugibba. 

Court experts said vaginal examination found no traces of semen. 

Court expert Mario Scerri said the victim had scratches on her face and had blood oozing from her nose. She also had injuries compatible to punches to the face. 

Rapid Intervention Unit police officer Aaron Cutajar and Stephen Micallef recalled how they were on patrol when they saw a man lying down on a woman on the grass at the side of St George's Road. Seconds later, they said they heard the woman screaming for help. 

"I heard her saying 'stop, stop'. The accused was lying down on her, she had blood on her face and was wearing no pants. He had his trousers down to his knee. I grabbed him from the back and he elbowed me in the face and I had to lock him to arrest his," PC Cutajar said. 

PC Micallef said "It was obvious what he was trying to do," as he was urged by Magistrate Aaron Bugeja not to be ashamed to say what he saw. 

He said the woman's legs were open and she was wearing no trousers on underwear. In fact, he removed his jacket and passed it to her to cover up and "regain dignity". 

The court heard how Mr Ballde was on bail awaiting trial for assaulting the police and a prostitute and was on bail and had to be home at 10pm. 

Regrading the escape from police custody, the court heard how the accused was placed inside a cell which had been damaged, so he was handcuffed to the bench. However, when police officers called to take him to the police depot, they found the handcuffs still attached to the bench but the accused was nowhere to be seen. 

The police realised he had escaped from the station's roof and ran towards the valley so the police gave pursuit. However, since it was dark, he managed to get away. 

He was apprehended a couple of days later outside a bar close to his residence in St Paul's Bay. 

The case continues. 

Police Inspector Trevor Micallef prosecuted. Lawyer Anthony Cutajar appeared for the man as legal aid while lawyer Peter Fenech appeared parte civile for the victim.