Man charged with raping 8-year-old girl, remanded in custody

A 49-year-old man who has two pending sexual abuse cases involving minors was today remanded in custody after pleading not guilty to raping and sexually abusing an eight-year-old girl.

Emanuel Schembri, of Valletta, also pleaded not guilty to defiling the eight-year-old, participating in sexual acts with the minor, violent indecent assault, committing the offence during the operative period of a suspended sentence, and to relapsing.

The court heard how back in 2009, the accused, Emanuel Schembri, of Valletta, had a relationship with the minor’s mother – who at the time was working as a prostitute in Valletta – and while she was working, he allegedly used to rape and sexually assaulted her 8-year-old daughter.

The court heard how in 2012, Schembri, was handed a suspended sentence, and is currently out on bail for a separate charge of defilement of minors.

Prosecuting inspector Sylvana Briffa told the court that at the time of the offence, the accused and the girl’s mother used to live in the same street. The minor, who is now 14 years old, is currently under a care order.

In submissions for the accused’s name to be banned, Lawyer Yana Micallef Stafrace, who appeared as legal aid for the accused, told the court that if the court were to approve the publishing of the accused’s name, the mother and her daughter would “inevitably be identified.”

However, the prosecution objected to the defence’s plea, arguing that the daughter has no relationship with the accused, while the mother’s relationship with Schembri ended a long time ago.

Magistrate Anthony Vella upheld the prosecution’s dispute and rejected the defence’s plea for the accused’s name to be banned. Moreover, the court rejected the defence’s plea for bail, arguing that this is not the first time that the accused faced charges of defilement of minors.

Inspector Sylvana Briffa prosecuted while Lawyer Yana Micallef Stafrace was legal aid.