A woman found lying unconscious in a cave underneath Fort Ricasoli remained there out of fear of what her estranged husband and alleged captor would do to her if she escaped, a court heard today. 

Roddy Williams allegedly shoved his wife down stairs and into the sea, forced her through a maze of tunnels, kept her in a dark chamber and raped her twice during a three-day ordeal. 

He is accused of kidnapped his 46-year old estranged wife, leaving her in the dark without any food and drink for several days, violently engaging in sexual activity with her, holding her against her will, harassing her and causing her to fear violence.

This information was revealed in court today as the compilation of evidence against the 37-year old Seychelles-born man, from Fgura, continued.

The police had first been alerted about Ms Williams' disappearance by her father.

They were then called to break up a fight between Mr Williams and his estranged wife's family on the evening of October 30. When questioned by police, the accused confessed and led police to Ricasoli, where the victim was discovered lying unconscious in a dark underground chamber.

Recounting her ordeal to a court-appointed legal expert, Ms Williams had said how she had agreed to meet her husband at Ricasoli in the hope of ending their ongoing separation proceedings on an amicable note.

Shoved down stairs

However, things had taken a nasty turn when the man suddenly pushed her down the fortification stairs, causing her to topple into the sea. After dragging her out of the water, he had forced her into the maze of tunnels running under the fort, threatening to harm her and her next of kin unless she did as he ordered.

"There will be a big funeral in Malta such as has never been seen before," he allegedly told her. 

Once inside a dark underground chamber, the man had allegedly raped her twice, holding a knife, threatening to slit her throat and bury her there unless she gave in. He kept insisting that as she was his wife, he had a right to have sex.

Once returned to safety, the woman had recalled how during the whole ordeal she had been disoriented, feeling very sick and finding it hard to breathe.

Testifying in court today, inspector Josric Mifsud explained how the woman had later told police that she had been too scared to stray from the spot whenever Mr Williams went away. She feared that he would have carried out his threats if he were to find her outside.

Questioned by the defence about the fact that Ms Williams had amended her original version of events, the inspector pointed out that the victim had spoken to the police just hours after her ordeal when she was still evidently traumatised.

In fact, up to this very day, the woman still has not been certified as fit to testify, the court was told.

Hours later, after receiving due medication, the woman had wished to clarify that she had not been taken to Ricasoli in her aggressor’s car but had met him there because she wished to end separation matters between them amicably.

Lawyer Ludvic Caruana, appearing parte civile for the victim, explained that the woman had allegedly confused two separate incidents, one of which had occurred a few days before her last ordeal when she had filed a police report against her estranged husband.

Fort Ricasoli - 'no man's land' 

Earlier in today’s sitting, court-appointed expert Stephen Spiteri, a military architecture historian specialised in fortifications, reported that Fort Ricasoli is currently government property designated as ‘unallocated’ which practically makes it a ‘no-man’s land.’

This meant there was no physical barrier to stop anyone from accessing the fort dating back to the Knights of the Order and overlying an intricate network of tunnels stretching all along the land front.

After consulting an original map of the site and after personally accessing the underground system of tunnels, Dr Spiteri explained that upon entering, one finds a fairly large barrel vault with some 20 musketry loopholes which allow sufficient light for one to navigate without the use of a torch.

Further in, a one-metre diameter breach where the tunnel roof collapsed, also allowed some light into the underground space which eventually gives way to a zigzagging of tunnels leading to the chamber where Ms Williams was allegedly held hostage.

“In the chamber there is total darkness because it is somewhat lower,” the expert said.

Defence lawyer Franco Debono, however, confronted the witness with a site-plan drawn up by another court expert, architect Mario Cassar, which did not in any way show the loopholes or the collapsed roof which let in natural light.

Arguing that the issue of luminosity was crucial in this case, Dr Debono asked that Mr Cassar be called once again to testify over his findings.

At the end of the sitting, magistrate Claire Stafrace Zammit pronounced a ‘prima facie’ decree and declared that the court would deliver its decree on bail in chambers.

Inspectors Josric Mifsud and Paula Ciantar prosecuted.
Lawyers Franco Debono, Marion Camilleri and Yanika Vidal were defence counsel.
Lawyers Ludvic Caruana and Janice Borg appeared parte civile.

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