Man accused of raping 19-year-old disabled girl

A 26-year-old man has been remanded in custody after being accused of the rape of a mentally disabled 19-year-old girl.

Inspector John Spiteri arraigned the man from Siggiewi, who works as a cleaner, before magistrate Audrey Demicoli this morning.

He explained how the accused had been in an ongoing sexual relationship with the girl and would engage in various sexual activities whenever they met. On one occasion, however, the girl had not wanted to have sex and so the accused had grabbed her by the throat and forced her.

The victim had told her mother, who had then gone to the police.

The accused confirmed doing this under interrogation, the inspector told the court.

A not guilty plea was entered for the man. Lawyer Leslie Cuschieri remarked that he would be requesting that the man also be examined for mental health issues.

The lawyer asked for bail, pointing out that the accused lived with his mother and had never been in trouble with the law. He had started a new job just four months ago, said the lawyer.

The  prosecution opposed bail, however. The fear of the man suborning the victim was manifest, the prosecutor said, telling the court how the victim had sought out the accused even after her mother had told her not to meet him again.

She was found on a bus stop waiting for the bus to Siggiewi, he said. “It is still premature to grant bail. The victim is a vulnerable person,” concluded the inspector.

Bail was denied at this stage due to the “real possibility” of the accused tampering with evidence.