Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1539941
MAYA GALEA mgalea@mediatoday.com.mt 7 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 1 OCTOBER 2025 COURT Man cleared of rape, assault after court finds woman's testimony inconsistent and unreliable A man charged with committing violent rape on his ex-partner was cleared of all charges after the woman's version of events was found to be greatly unreliable and inconsistent. The man was also found not guilty of causing her slight injuries and fear that violence would be used against her on a separate occasion. In the early hours of 13 May 2018, po- lice were called to the Pizza Hut restau- rant in St Julian's after receiving reports that a woman locked herself inside the premises, allegedly to protect herself from an ex-partner who was trying to assault her. Police found the woman visibly agi- tated and in tears at the scene. She told officers that she had been beaten up earlier that evening inside her residence in Msida. According to her version of events, he had appeared at her apartment door and demanded that she let him in. Fright- ened, she stepped onto her balcony to call for help from a neighbour. The man allegedly forced his way inside, threw her onto the sofa and began to assault her while she tried to defend herself. The woman told police that she had previously been in a relationship with the accused but problems had arisen be- cause he was married and had children. The victim told police that she had been suffering from numerous panic attacks due to the accused's behavior, as he re- mained very possessive toward her. At the time of the ordeal, another man was inside her residence, something which appeared to fuel the accused's anger. The accused could not under- stand why she had called him up, when she had another man at her house. She said that she eventually persuad- ed him to leave the apartment with her. They got into her car and she convinced him instead to drive to Pizza Hut in St Julian's, where she sought help from the manager, asking him to lock the prem- ises and call the police. The accused also gave his version of events at the St Julian's police station. On the morning of the alleged assault, the accused said he gave her €25 and a packet of cigarettes to aid her finan- cial problems. He explained that they had been in a relationship for around a year and seven months but had broken up six months earlier, adding that he would give her money so that she would stop calling him late at night. That day, the woman asked him where he was and why he hadn't gone to see her. He later went to her apartment and found the downstairs door open. When he entered the flat, he saw a man sitting with a drink in front of him. Contrary to her version, the woman's male friend, who was inside the resi- dence, said that the woman opened the door for him. Alleged rape incident The woman had also claimed a rape incident involving the man whilst in a car. However, while testifying, she could not recall the exact date or month when this alleged act had occurred. The woman confirmed that after the alleged rape she did not go to a doctor, that she had not spoken to anyone about the in- cident or made any report. The court identified several inconsist- encies in the woman's account of the al- leged rape. The woman initially claimed the accused pushed her to the backseat of the car but later admitted that she went voluntarily, saying "What is the difference?" The court noted that if she had gone on her own, the element of coercion would be absent, which conflicts with her claim of non-consent. She also described the accused pulling her hair, removing her clothing, and forcing her into sexual activity. How- ever, she gave no details of trying to escape, locking of the car, or physical force against her. The court found this vague and inconsistent with what would be expected if the act had actually been non-consensual. After careful reading of their ex- changed text messages, it appeared that the woman and the accused maintained a very friendly relationship during the time of the alleged rape. She was per- fectly comfortable communicating with the accused since she never refused tak- ing money from him. They not only exchanged messages and calls but also met in person, such as when she was taking care of his chil- dren at her home. "There is no indica- tion that this relationship was forced or unwanted," the court held. Thus, the man was found not guilty of all charges brought against him. In its decision, the court stated that the prosecution failed in proving its case, as serious doubt remained on the credibility of the woman and the relia- bility of her version of events. Magistrate Donatella Frendo Dimech presided over the hearing. Man denies supplying ecstasy to his wife which led to her death COLOMBIAN national, Nelson Esteban Lopez Ceron, 29, has denied charges of supplying his wife with an ecstasy pill which caused her death. Ceron stands accused of pos- sessing ecstasy in circumstances indicating it was not for person- al use, of distributing or traffick- ing the drugs, and of commit- ting the offence within 100m of a place frequented by minors. In July 2022, police were in- vestigating the sudden deaths of two women, Sandra Zamu- dio, Ceron's wife and Chrystal Mateiasevici. Zamudio was hospitalised af- ter ingesting the drug but died later at Mater Dei Hospital. In court, CCTV footage showed the couple entering and leaving the Gianpula entertain- ment complex, and later, foot- age from the hospital captured Zamudio on a stretcher. The accused appeared visibly dis- tressed. Defence lawyer Stefano Filletti argued that the case was one of sharing and not of trafficking, stressing that his client had al- ready "paid the ultimate price" with the loss of his wife. Filletti further submitted that the matter was more appropri- ately heard by the drug court. The defence is expected to pres- ent supporting evidence to justi- fy the case being transferred. Magistrate Caroline Farrugia Frendo presided over the court.