Women’s Study Group dismayed by court sentence on rape case

Women’s Study Group concerned at how three young men were simply placed under probation after admitting to holding a 14-year-old girl against her will and raping her.

3 May 2013, 12:00am
by Miriam Dalli

1 min read

The Maltese University's Women's Study Group expressed its "overwhelming disappointment" after the Maltese courts granted three young men probation after having found them guilty of having raped a 14-year-old girl and holding her against her will.

Aged 17 when the crime took place in March last year, two of them were placed under probation for three years while the third was placed under probation for years on admission of participating in the crime by performing sexual acts with the girl.

"We understand that they were minors at the time of committing the crime, since they were 17, and it is not the resultant lenient sentencing which causes us most dismay," the group said.

"The most shocking part is that the court observed that the prosecution and the defence agreed that this was just an act of foolishness by three young men who thought their deed to be some achievement."

Quoting the court sentence, in Maltese it said: "att ta' bluha ta' tlett guvintur minorenni li ħasbu li qed jagħmlu xi bravata".

The women's study group insisted that with such a sentence, the Maltese courts suggested "this was just a bit of mischief that the boys got up to and it was nothing serious... All that was left for them to do was give them a pat on the back".

The group argued that such attitudes continue to ensure that violence against women and girls remains alive.

"It is bad enough when men in the street spouts such misogyny, but when we hear it from the learned judiciary, the prosecuting police officer, and the defense attorney then the damage done is much greater."

Miriam Dalli joined MaltaToday.com.mt in 2010 becoming assistant editor f...

More from Miriam Dalli

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Some things certainly have not changed in Malta. Still ruled and controlled by misogynistic men. An island that undermines women and children - presents itself as a civilized 'nice' and 'christian' people. Women and men(with a conscience) should be outraged with this unbelievable court decision and should not let it rest.

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Time and again, we see these bizarre sentences. Examples are: "it's understandable that the accused ran over the victim, he did call him gay, and it was in Mellieha". Or: "it's true the security officer violently assaulted the victim, but I have head he is a difficult person". And now, rape is "bravata". This has to stop. A justice reform must remove absolute power from these nitwits.

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Rape IS RAPE, whether committed by a boy, youth, and adult over 18 years of age, whether att ta' bluha or otherwise. Rape is forcing a lifelong effect on another person whatever your age. That indellible act of empowerment and force, especially in a gang rape, cannot be condoned by probation. The sentence of the Court is equivalent to being raped a forth time (the second when the poor girl had to undergo medical examination, the third when she had to relive the event in her account to the Court with the defence trying to force a situation claiming the girl egged the boys on!). The Magistrate who gave such a verdict should be censured by the Board for the Administration of Justice headed by the Chief Justice. That decision was an injustice to the girl and an injustice to all women.

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Can someone quote the case number as I always believe what I read and not what others like to quote bits from a complete sentence

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Maltesecross I agree with you a hundred percent. Things like these do not happen to Judges daughters or relatives because they are protected by the system. I don't wish rape on anybody but never say never and it could happen to anybody these days. I agree that the DA should appeal the sentence as a matter of fact the Family of the raped girl should insist on it. I wonder what the DA was thinking to agree to such an idiotic sentence?????

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"att ta' bluha ta' tlett guvintur minorenni li ħasbu li qed jagħmlu xi bravata". Thiis is no bravata, this RAPE. This is more prove that men in Malta have the final say. Shame on the courts and especially the prosecution for agreeing to a suspended sentence for these three rapists. Is this more politics from our courts or the Justice System? Where is the justice in this for that girls who got raped by three boys? Where does she come in? maybe she can wipe out that ordeal from her mind or maybe she has to live with the raping by these three boys forever. And how does she explain that to her children? The boys seem to be free to brag about it all but the girl? No wonder as they say justice is blind in one eye but I think in Maltese courts, justice is totally blind and this has to stop. Where is the Supreme Justice to protect the girl's rite? What kind of a defense lawyer did she have representing her? Shame on the Prosecutor and more shame on the courts for allowing this to happen. This injustice in our courts must stop, even if the Justice system has to replace every Judge and every Magistrate in the court system. Enough is enough and it is about time Malta establishes that man is only king of his castle(and that is doubtful)but not in real life. Rape is rape and please don't use any idiotic phrases like these were boys acting like boys. These were 3 boys raping a 14 year old girl. Why not ask the mother of this girl how she feels? Why not ask the grandparents of this girl how they feel about these three boys who raped their 14 year old granddaughter? Wake up courts before one of your daughters or granddaughters goes through the same ordeal. Never say never.

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The Maltese "justice" system is an embarrassment to the country.

Priscilla Darmenia •

Who knows if the learned judge would have thought the same if the girl was his daughter or a very close relative? - Veru pajjiz tal-Micky Mouse. – In my opinion the Attorney General should appeal the sentence.