Pregnant 17-year-old had cable wrapped around neck by boyfriend

Jun 16 2022

A man has been charged with attacking and injuring his 17-year-old pregnant girlfriend, MaltaToday reported.

Inspector Eman Hayman arraigned a 22-year-old man from St Julians in court before Magistrate Astrid May Grima. The man was accused of attacking and causing bodily harm to his pregnant girlfriend, injuring her and threatening her.

The incident is said to have taken place on the 14th of June following an argument over a t-shirt. He was subsequently arrested after police received reports that the accused put his hand around the victim’s neck.

Franco Debono, his lawyer, said the man was arrested after voluntarily going to the police station to check on unrelated matters. The man insisted upon arrest that the marks on the victim’s neck were self-inflicted.

The victim however claimed that the man visited her in hospital to continue the argument. The accused explained that the woman made the marks found on her neck with a mobile phone charger cable. He instructed his sister to call the police.

Debono told the court that there was strong contestation to the facts, arguing for the man to be released on bail. He pointed to the fact that he didn’t reside with the alleged victim and that he was ‘genuine.’

Inspector Hayman said there were conflicted versions of the events and that police carried out lengthy exercises of comparison of said versions. The police arrived at the conclusion that the victim’s version made more sense, partly because the argument had continued elsewhere.

The court upheld the bail request, against a deposit of €1,000 and a personal guarantee of €10,000. He was ordered to observe a curfew, with a protection order in favour of the 17-year-old imposed.

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Man arrested as police search for second attacker of Sliema jogger

Jun 16 2022

Times of Malta confirmed that police have arrested a man and are searching for another suspect after they reportedly assaulted a 62-year-old man who was enjoying his morning jog on Thursday morning in Sliema.

A police spokesperson confirmed with the newspaper that officers to a distress call on the Sliema seafront, where they found a man who claimed to have been assaulted by two people.

The police were able to apprehend one hand, finding a knife in the vicinity of the alleged aggressor. The suspect is currently under questioning as investigations continue to determine whether the knife belonged to him.

The victim said he was enjoying his morning run when one of two men sitting on a bench stood up and punched him in the face.

The attack came out of the blue, explained the man, with the punch sending him tumbling away on the grass. After he started shouting for help, the men ran away. Two other men walking close by saw the altercation and gave chase, managing to apprehend the man.

The victim, Louis Spiteri, took to Facebook to explain the attack, asking ‘Is Sliema promenade safe anymore?’

‘I am a 62 yrs old, and every morning I enjoy going out for a walk or a jog. Can I still do this? Is Sliema Promenade safe anymore??? All this happened at 7.15 am, when the Promenade is busy with joggers.’ He went on to thank the two men who helped him, saying that he might have been lucky today as it could have been much worse.

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Photo Source: Google Maps, Louis Spiteri FB

Judicial protest by Maltese women to decriminalise and legalise abortion

Jun 16 2022

The Foundation for Women’s Rights has filed a judicial protest in Malta’s court on behalf of over 180 women of child-bearing age who could potentially get pregnant.

In Malta, the practice is not only prohibited but also criminalised. Outside the court, Lawyer Lara Dimitrijevic explained that the lack of action by the Health Minister, the Parliamentary Secretary for Reforms and Equality and the State Advocate is having direct effect on women’s quality of life.

In a statement, the Women’s Rights Foundation said that ‘abortion bans do not change the fact that abortion is a necessary health service and banning abortion does not stop it from happening.’

‘In fact, as we know all too well, every day, a woman in Malta has an abortion, yet we remain the only nation in the EU that criminalises these women and does not allow the procedure to take place safely and legally, irrespective of the circumstances.’

The press release pointed to women who were raped and had to go through forced pregnancies or went on to experience condemnation for getting an abortion. Others have health conditions which an accidental pregnancy could have serious consequences upon.

‘The political class of this country had every chance to do what is right and our pleas have been ignored for too long. We are pledging today that this judicial protest is only the first step. We are ready to take our battle to the courts of law, both local and European, and we will be heard.’

Read full press release here.

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Photo Source: Women’s Rights Foundation FB

US school no longer permitted to force girls to wear skirts

Jun 16 2022

An American federal court has decided that a private school is violating the constitutional rights of girl students by forcing them to wear a skirt with their uniform.

The founder of the Charter Day School in Leland, North Carolina argued that the skirt requirement for female students was to uphold traditional values and that girls are ‘fragile vessels’ deserving of ‘gentle treatment by boys.’

The 4th US Circuit Court of Appeals in Virginia slammed the skirt requirement, deciding it was unconstitutional on June 14th. The case was brought by three students, challenging the rule and arguing it was rooted in gender stereotypes.

The school however argued that the institution was not a state actor and should not be bound by the Equal Protection Clause, saying ‘we respectfully disagree with the majority’s opinion.’

In Malta, female students are still reportedly given detentions or other penalties should they not wear their uniform properly. Most students only start wearing casual clothes after secondary.

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