Briton's alleged rapist released
Italian man who was accused of forcing the 17-year-old in her cruiser cabin, in international waters between Mallorca and Valencia, walks free without charges due to legal loophole
Teenager was assaulted on a cruise in 'international waters'
AN Italian man accused of raping a British teenager on a Mediterranean cruise has been released without charge by Spanish authorities because of a legal loophole.
The 17-year-old girl was travelling with her parents on the MSC Divina when her alleged attacker, an 18-year-old, forced her into his cabin in the early hours of last Thursday morning (April 11).
But the suspect was freed after a judge ruled he did not have jurisdiction over a case committed on a Panama-registered vessel in international waters by an Italian against a British person.
The incident took place when the vessel was in international waters halfway between Mallorca and Valencia, newspaper Levante EMV reported.
The complainant was examined both on board the vessel, which is operated by MSC Cruises, and by medics at La Fe hospital when it docked at Valencia.
The cabin was also examined by forensic officers and the complainant's clothing taken for analysis, while the suspect was arrested after he returned from sightseeing in Valencia.
Police investigated whether the suspect had an address in Spain, which would have given the Spanish authorities the power to deal with the case.
The vessel departed Valencia for Marseille at about 16.15 on Thursday afternoon with the complainant and her family but without the sus- pect who was still being held by the Spanish authorities.
Although the suspect has been freed, the forensic inves- tigation is ongoing and the forensic samples and clothing are being processed by the Legal Medicine Institute of Valencia, Levante EMV said.
A spokesman for MSC Cruises said: "As there is an ongoing investigation, we are unable to provide any addi- tional comment on this matter."
He added: "Our company is fully cooperating with the authorities overseeing this investigation, but is not itself in any way subject to it."
A spokeswoman for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office said: "Our consular staff are providing support and assistance to a British woman and her family following an incident on board a cruise ship." The MSC Divina has 1,750 cabins and can carry 4,345 guests. MSC Cruises states on its website that the ship's design was inspired by Italian actress Sophia Loren.