Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1460760
6 NEWS maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 16 MARCH 2022 NEWS Man jailed nine years for defiling seven- year-old niece Woman accused of attempting to murder her partner by running him over Man handed suspended sentence for Facebook comment saying Robert and Karol Aquilina 'deserve the gallows' MATTHEW AGIUS A 55-year-old man from Valletta was sentenced to nine years in prison after he admitted to exposing his cousin's seven-year-old daughter to pornography and sexual activities with the child. The man is subject to a court-imposed ban on pub- lication aimed at protect- ing the victim. He pleaded guilty to charges of defile- ment of a minor, violent indecent assault and the possession and circulation of pornographic material in his Valletta home. The offences took place at his home in May 2019, when the girl, who is now 10, had been entrusted to his care. Police Inspector Joseph Busuttil prosecuted. Magistrate Claire Sta- frace Zammit ordered that the man's name be in- scribed on the sex offend- er's register. MATTHEW AGIUS THE mother of a one-month-old baby has been charged with attempted murder and other domestic violence charges after al- legedly intentionally running over her part- ner with his Mercedes in Zabbar. The 26-year-old accused, a housewife from Zebbug, was arraigned under arrest before Magistrate Doreen Clarke this after- noon, accused of attempted murder, slight- ly injuring her partner, uttering insults and threats which exceeded the limits of provo- cation, damaging a parked car belonging to a third party and driving a vehicle in which children were seated without a seatbelt. Lawyer Mark Attard Montalto, appear- ing parte civile, informed the court that his client was renouncing his right to criminal action wherever this was possible. He did not wish to testify, said the lawyer. Defence lawyers Franco Debono and Marion Camilleri requested bail. Lawyer George Camilleri, representing the Office of the Attorney General, told the court that there was no risk of escape, or of the accused not turning up for sittings. "The incident occurred last Sunday. The situation is very fresh. The fear that anoth- er altercation could take place at such an early stage is tangible. Having studied the case, it is too early to consider bail," sub- mitted the prosecutor. "We have a great responsibility as the prosecution to ensure that this does not happen again." On the other hand, the ac- cused is a mother of a very young child who needs her mother, he said. He asked that if bail was to be granted, the conditions should be "adequate." The defence praised the prosecutor for being just. Debono told the court that he knew the family personally and that they were good people. "It was a one off. There is a one-month-old baby in the midst of this and things have calmed down great- ly," he said. The accused could not work, in view of her situation and therefore had limited resources for the purposes of bail security, added the lawyer. Camilleri said that there was only a nom- inal risk of the woman disobeying her bail conditions, but said that if bail were to be granted, in the circumstances, the court should as a minimum, order that the two parties not reside in the same house. At that point, the victim informed the court that the accused could continue to reside at the matrimonial home and that he would seek alternative accommodation. Magistrate Doreen Clarke, after hearing the parties' submissions, granted bail to the accused. The magistrate made it clear to the wom- an that until a contrary court order was given, she was not to speak to her partner and vice versa, if not through their lawyers. The woman was ordered to sign a bail book once a week. Bail was secured by a €5,000 deposit and a personal guarantee of €15,000. Debono asked the magistrate to impose a ban on the publication of the names of the parties, in the interests of the children. The court upheld the request. Mother of a one-month-old baby has been charged with attempted murder and other domestic violence charges A man has been handed a suspended sentence after he was charged in court over an online comment in which he said that brothers Karol and Robert Aq- uilina "deserve the gallows". Karol Aquilina is a PN MP and Rob- ert Aquilina is president of Rule of Law NGO Repubblika. 56-year-old Martin Galea of Gzira ap- peared before magistrate Claire Stafrace Zammit on Tuesday morning, accused of misuse of electronic telecommunica- tions equipment and inciting political- ly-motivated violence. Inspector Joseph Busuttil, prosecuting, explained to the court that he had previ- ously charged a person with using hate speech against the Aquilinas and that Galea had written his comment in ques- tion on Facebook under a post featuring a TVM report on that arraignment. Galea pleaded guilty to the charges. Lawyer Ezekiel Psaila argued that the phrase "il-forka haqqhom" (they de- serve the gallows) was colloquial. "Let's not trivialise the matter," interrupted parte civile lawyer Therese Commod- ini Cachia. Psaila insisted that Galea "should not be made the sacrificial lamb." The court disagreed, however. "This is a question of basic education for us Maltese. When are we going to start constructive criticism on social media? I know this because the courts receive this type of criticism every day. It's not right." Inspector Busuttil also informed the court that the accused had apologised during his statement. Psaila told the court that the accused had told him that he "hadn't even read the story" before posting his comment. He argued that the incident had to be taken into per- spectiive and that the law applied equal- ly to all. "I want to pass on the message to the public that we should be constructive and not shoot our mouths off random- ly. Because this is ignorance," said the court. Commodini Cachia said that there have been many judgments on similar cases, adding that the Aquilina brothers wished to testify to give context. Psaila objected. "An early guilty plea is an early guilty plea." The prosecuting inspector agreed, submitting that normally this would not be permitted because of the fact that the accused had admitted the charges An argument broke out on this point between Robert Aquilina and the In- spector after Aquilina said words to the effect that he "would be informing the Commissioner of Police of the inspec- tor's behaviour." Busuttil cried foul to the court, telling the magistrate that Robert Aquilina was threatening him that there "would be consequences". Aquilina explained that he meant that he would be informing the Commis- sioner of Police that the inspector was not giving him the protection he need- ed and was "almost defending the ac- cused." "I am requesting the protection of the court," continued the inspector. "He is threatening me with reporting me to the Commissioner of Police." Magistrate Stafrace Zammit then called the parties to approach the bench where the case was discussed, mostly out of earshot of the press. Busuttil was heard to argue that the parte civile had no right to testify if there is an admission. "We do this in murder cases too," he said. The issue appeared to be settled after several minutes of discussion, and the parties returned to their places. Busuttil informed the court that the comment was still online. Magistrate Stafrace Zammit or- dered the accused to remove it straight away. "I don't know where it is; it's been months," he replied. Commodini Cachia told the court she would help the man remove it. Asked by the court, the accused con- firmed his guilty plea. In view of his admission of guilt, the magistrate proceeded to convict Galea of the charges and sentenced him to seven months in jail, suspended for 18 months. He was also ordered to keep the peace with the Aquilina brothers and their families for one year or pay a €500 penalty. 56-year-old Martin Galea of Gzira appeared before magistrate Claire Stafrace Zammit on Tuesday morning, accused of misuse of electronic telecommunications equipment and inciting politically-motivated violence