Is this the only way they can get any sex in Gozo?
The Times, Friday, November 21, 2008
Three charged with Gozo gang rape
Three Gozitan men were yesterday charged with gang-raping a 21-year-old woman in a construction site in Qala early on Wednesday morning. The three men appeared before Magistrate Paul Coppini and pleaded not guilty. Despite the prosecution’s objections, they were granted bail.
Paul Xerri, 46, from Xagħra, Mark Cutajar, 31, and Aaron Camilleri, 28, both from Nadur, pleaded not guilty to raping the woman, who is from Qala, holding her against her will and slightly injuring her. Police Inspector Josric Mifsud, prosecuting, objected to a request for bail arguing that important prosecution witnesses still had to testify. Furthermore, there was the possibility that the accused would tamper with the evidence.
However, the court upheld the request and granted Mr Xerri and Mr Camilleri bail against a deposit of €1,000 and a €2,000 personal guarantee. Mr Cutajar, who the court heard is believed to have been the mastermind behind the gang rape, was granted bail against a deposit of €2,000 and a personal guarantee of €4,000.
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It sure looks like a serious problem.
Daph – The news article regarding the above attracted a mere two comments on http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20081121/local/three-charged-with-gozo-gang-rape . Unsurprisingly, however, this item – posted several hours later – attracted the usual barrage:
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20081121/local/libyan-pleads-guilty-to-rape .
They needn’t worry, there’s sure to be a Gozitan priest who would be willing to approach the victim and persuade her to withdraw her charges, for the good of mankind of course, and a few thousand euro.
[Daphne – Or one who’ll unzip his fly, waggle his willy around at a German tourist, and then pretend it wasn’t him because he was on his way to collect his mother (of course). I didn’t miss that one, either. This is all the fruit of repression.]
@ Daphne
The priest you refer to is not Gozitan. He was cleared by the courts… the civil courts, not a church tribunal.
[Daphne – So he was only living in Gozo then? And yes, I know he was cleared by the courts, but did you see how? The tourist recognised him, but then got confused over where exactly she saw him do it – unsurprising, given that she is not from below Ta’ Cenc but from Germany, and this apparently put her credibility in doubt. Though why a German tourist should concoct a story about a man exposing himself, run shrieking for help, and then identify the man brought forward as the owner of the get-away car is beyond me. She should have done what Maltese women have done for years, and yell at him.]
http://gozonews.com/item/priest-acquitted-of-indecent-exposure/
The man’s from Mosta:
http://gozonews.com/item/38-year-old-man-charged-with-molestation-and-offending-public-morals-at-dwerja/
She was Swiss, Daphne. And the priest in question was on holiday.
Apparently the Swiss have a clause in their travel insurance that if they produce proof of a claim to police they will be compensated and handsomely. To be honest, this is what is doing the rounds on the grapevine.
[Daphne – Oh, come on. Have you any idea how many times I’ve had some bleeding Maltese pervert expose himself to me in Sliema, Ghajn Tuffieha, on country walks, in Gozo…..? That’s right, I haven’t either. There were far too many of them. Had I run screaming for the police, it wouldn’t have been because of an insurance claim, I can assure you. I didn’t run screaming for the police because I was so used to it. I even began to find it funny, sad and pathetic, the saddest of all being the classic trenchcoat-man who raced past me, disappeared behind a bus-stop shelter, then popped out and did the cliched cartoon thing. I actually burst out laughing. And then there was the time I was sitting on Ghajn Tuffieha beach at 8am, reading a book, when I heard some man ask me the time, only to look up and see this awful, puny little starkers body. I didn’t react at all, calmly looked at my watch, gave him the time and went back to my book. He was so freaked out that he got dressed and left.]
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20081114/local/priest-cleared-of-exposing-himself
He was admiring the view …
@Amanda… but she didn’t :)
Dear Daphne, I fully agree, it is sad and ridiculous, ridiculously sad…it is also tiring to death to escape those stalking bodies…and unfortunately it is annoying and harassing to the extreme.I used to live in Malta for quite a while (coming from Germany) and it became my everyday workout to avoid the “wankers”, excuse my rude language please! Once at the beach a man sneaked away from his wife and his little children, sat down behind a group of young tourist girls and started to “play with himself”…instead of playing with his toddlers. He seemed to have fun at least.
The highlight of my holiday (NO, it was NOT the catamaran trip to Sicily) once was when a middle-aged man, sitting right behind me in the bus, started masturbating,sweating away and heavily breathing. I got breathless too. It was my pleasure sharing those intimate moments with him. I felt exhausted.Pity, him and me didn’t share the “after-sex-cigarette”. I could write a book about my (and some other female friends’) adventures in the last 15 years on the rock…and I swear: no clause in my travel insurance!…Actually I would be obcenely rich in that case!
@ Daphne
I just passed on a bit of gossip doing the rounds…isn’t this site the equivalent of a good chinwag with friends?
[Daphne – Of course. But that’s why I told you why I think she wasn’t lying and that he was. Exposing yourself and masturbating in public is a national pastime. I forgot to tell you the ‘best’ story of all: of how my blonde friend – the man must have thought she was barranija – was asleep lying on her back on Exiles beach in broad daylight and with people all around, only to wake up when she felt something wet falling on her face. She opened her eyes and….you guessed it.]
@ Amanda Mallia:
Thanks for providing the links to the Gozo and Libyan rapes. I was going to put the link to the Gozo rape on the Libyan page, but I see that you have already done that. Thanks.
@ Meerkat
Would have expected better. I posted the following comment on times.com when the news item was published some days ago and I dont mind reproducing it for the benefit of the readers on this blog.
Quote. I fail to see what place such inane comments have in this context. Fr Joe is a respected member of the community who was wrongly accused. Thankfully justice has been served. Wouldn’t it be a good idea to allow him to resume his duties and his mission without useless gossip and silly comments being tossed around? Unquote.
[Daphne – You see, the thing is……I don’t believe him.]
@ Christine Galea
I think I have stuck up for the priest in question. I fail to see why you should have expected better. I said that the woman in question apparently had ulterior motives in making her claim. I also said that the courts found the priest to be innocent. I passed on the info that I heard which puts the woman in a bad light.
[Daphne – I imagine that you fell short of her expectations by not adopting an outraged tone.]
@ Daphne
Outraged tones are not my style. I hate bossiness under any form.
@Daphne
It doesn’t matter what you or anyone believes…….. Factum est.
@ Meerkat
The comment wasn’t a personal one. What I meant is that I feel there is nothing to be gained from gossip (good or bad) in this case. People will believe what they want to believe no matter what they are told.
[Daphne – You missed your century, Christine. The Inquisition is no longer. Stick to chasing cassocks. Gejja bil- factum est.]
[Daphne – Or one who’ll unzip his fly, waggle his willy around at a German tourist, and then pretend it wasn’t him because he was on his way to collect his mother (of course). I didn’t miss that one, either. This is all the fruit of repression.]
This is a case when an erm, identification parade,would have helped clinch the verdict I guess.
@ Daphne
There’s an old saying in the English language: “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me.” It’s usually used by kids to retort against other kids calling them names, and it means that nothing you can call me will hurt me. It applies here!!
I was actually expecting you to reply to my comment in this vein! However, no amount of disparaging remarks can intimidate some people (I am one of them) from speaking out when they feel strongly about something – you, for one should relate to that! – but surely it stands to reason that one should be able to comment liberally in such blogs without having to be continually called this, that and the other, when they don’t agree with what you write!
In principle, I really respect the fact that, as a journalist, you are gutsy enough to speak out openly on most issues (doesn’t mean I always agree with what you write) but I feel that the some common courtesy should be afforded to those who post counter-comments. After all, that’s what healthy debate is all about.
You will probably censor this comment – we’ll see
[Daphne – Christine, blogs don’t have censors. They have editors, like newspapers – or they should do – so please learn the difference. Actually, I find your missionary zeal amusing. Religious zealots who are not a threat to the lives, health or rights of others are entertaining and part of the colour of life. Quite frankly, I don’t care what religious rules you use to govern your life (tolerance doesn’t seem to be one of them) as long as you don’t insist that everyone else does the same – which, I believe, you are busy doing on matters of divorce and stay-at-home mothers.]
This is one time when I have to agree with Daphne when she highlights a problem as being particularly Maltese. My wife lived in Malta for around 10 years.Being blonde, and obviously not Maltese, meant she’d regularly get free (unwanted) shows. I’m a Maltese man, and I hate these perverts because we all get tarnished with the same brush.
No, Steve. I’ve been in various European countries and these people you’re mentioning are found in every place. They don’t seem to realize that they can pay a hooker and satisfy their sexual needs instead of annoying other people.
@Christine
Catholic priests should follow the example of Orthodox priests. I do not know why they do not marry. Even St.Peter had a wife.
I find all this talk about men exposing themselves a bit over the top. Although admittedly, some men still live in the jungle here, the vast majority of them wouldn’t resort to a thing like that to attract women. Bravado and small talk yes but not exposing themselves.
[Daphne – I don’t think they do it to attract women, Gerald.]
As John Meilak said these w””£kers exist everywhere, not just Malta. The only difference is in other countries they’re usually banned from any services offer by the local community, then reported to the Health Services Authority, to be taken care of. I’ve never heard of anyone in Malta who exposed himself, and was given treatment, sadly enough.
this rape business is bringing a bad name to gozo but come on, this woman brought it on herself. people who know her would say the same. maybe not all the men are innocent, but honey, neither is the 21 year old woman. plus, she was under the influence while this happened, so its her word against theirs.