Two brothers were yesterday jailed for 10 years each after being found guilty of raping and defiling two boys aged 10 and 11, on and before 2002.

Denis Pandolfino, 58, and Anthony Pandolfino, 63, were accused of raping the boys after their mother entrusted them in their care.

They were also found guilty of being in possession of pornographic material.

In a 61-page-judgment, Mr Justice Joseph Galea Debono noted that one of the children testified he was living with Anthony Pandolfino when he was five or six years old and that he used to rape him, that these acts lasted about an hour and a half each time and that he continued even though he told him it hurt.

He would threaten the boy with death if he told anyone about what had happened. He also testified that Denis Pandolfino used to come and watch and when Anthony Pandolfino left, he would touch himself and order the boy not to tell Anthony Pandolfino about it as otherwise he would not be allowed to use the Playstation.

The court referred to drawings the children made in the presence of counsellors and their interpretation of what was going on and how the children used to watch pornographic films on TV as well as pornographic photos and movies on the computer.

The court also referred to evidence that corroborated what the boys had spoken about, such as creams found in the house of Anthony Pandolfino, a video cassette with images of sexual acts as well as pornographic material and a video camera on a stand, which showed that the accused was well entrenched in his paedophile acts.

The court said the fact that one of the boys did not divulge the whole truth immediately could stem from the fact that he had a guilt complex as he had become used to the kind of abuse he was subjected to and wanted to minimise his role in the eyes of those he was speaking to.

In passing judgment, the court considered the serious nature of the case and the fact that it was a repeated offence and ruled that the brothers merited an effective jail term that went beyond the minimum in order to reflect the gravity of the case.

"They two took advantage of the irresponsible way of life (the boys') mother lived and manipulated in a way to get under their control a boy each so that they could abuse them when and how they wished.

This was a system of conduct which each of the accused planned to satisfy their perversity."

Assistant Attorney General Anthony Barbara prosecuted.

Lawyer Joseph Mifsud appeared for Denis Pandolfino and lawyer Joseph Giglio appeared for Anthony Pandolfino.

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