Marsascala gang member appeals rape conviction

The first out of 14 youths who were convicted last week for rape, violent indecent assault and a series of other crimes committed on a number of young girls, has filed an appeal.

A youth who was recently sentenced to serve an effective jail term for rape, violent indecent assault, extortion and theft has claimed that his judgment was "excessive."

He was found guilty of a string of crimes together with another 13 youths who roamed the streets of Marsascala in 2004 and lured young girls within their own gang to have sex, while also allegedly extorting money from them.

The youth, whose name cannot be published by court order, claimed through his lawyer Josè Herrera that he was only 14 when the alleged crimes were committed.

He also claimed that although most of the charges are serious and beyond public decency, the alleged victims were co-participant in what went on, and contributed to the facts as established in court.

The youth is also contesting the fact that justice was served almost eight years after the alleged crimes were committed, and called on the appeals court to reform the judgement.