Woman travelled to Russia to get an abortion after alleged rape by husband

A 31-year-old man from St Paul’s Bay was yesterday remanded in custody after the police charged him with violently raping his wife.

A court heard how the rape had resulted in a pregnancy and the wife had travelled to Russia to have an abortion.

The accused, whose name cannot be published by order of the court, pleaded not guilty of raping and threatening his wife and causing her to fear that violence would be used against her.

Inspector John Spiteri told Magistrate Monica Vella that the woman went to the Qawra police station where she claimed that her husband had forced her to have sex with him on several occasions and had also tried to rape her.

But lawyers Franco Debono and Marion Camilleri, defending the accused, said the woman had filed numerous police reports only to retract them later. They also complained about the fact that no witnesses had been presented in yesterday’s arraignment.

The inspector said the police had spoken to the couple’s children and had taken a statement from the woman and, as such there was no fear of tampering with evidence.

Dr Debono said this was a delicate case and asked the court to grant bail with strict conditions. He pointed out that the couple was not living in the same house.

But Inspector Spiteri pointed out that the woman was living at Dar Merħba Bik not out of choice. He said the woman had recently travelled to Russia for an abortion after she became pregnant as a result of rape. Dr Debono angrily objected that the inspector was testifying instead of the witness, but Spiteri carried on undeterred.

He also claimed that the accused had, together with a relative, kidnapped the children and taken them into his custody.

After considering all the arguments brought forward, the magistrate denied bail. Magistrate Vella pointed out that the accused had in the past been found guilty of similar offences and had ignored advice to change his ways.