Marsaskala gang rape: Cab driver asked how many women he was carrying

A cab driver who transported a gang rape victim to Marsaskala has testified how the person who booked the ride asked whether he was carrying “one or two girls”.

The testimony was delivered in court on Thursday as the compilation of evidence against five Syrian nationals accused of gang raping a woman continued before Magistrate Caroline Farrugia Frendo.

The rape happened in an abandoned house in Marsaskala and the accused are aged between 16 and 21. They have pleaded not guilty.

During the sitting, prosecutors described the acts alleged by the victim as “atrocities”.

The woman had told investigators she had arranged to meet a man who she had met on Tinder on 15 April for what she believed was a date.

A Bolt taxi had been sent to pick her up from Sliema and take her to Marsaskala.

Upon arriving, her date entered into a decrepit building. Despite following him, she immediately sensed that something was wrong.

As she attempted to leave, she was grabbed by a man. Four individuals then allegedly overpowered her and forced her onto a bed. She told police that the men told her that she would be taken upstairs.

One of them allegedly pressed a firearm against her head and told her that two of the men would “have something to do” with her, while two others would film what was taking place.

The woman said one of the accused forced her to perform oral sex before raping her. After he had finished, he called over another man, who also raped her.

Once the assaults were over, the group returned downstairs, where the woman had initially entered the building. The men then made off with her jewellery and personal belongings.

They eventually returned her passport and mobile phone and instructed her to leave within 10 minutes.

She took a taxi home and reported the alleged rape the following day.

Bolt driver recalls unusual questions

A Bolt driver who testified about the journey that took the woman from Sliema to Marsaskala told the court that the app booking showed a single initial, ‘K’ and the destination. When he arrived, he asked the passenger whether she was the person named on the application.

Communication between the two proved difficult because of a language barrier.

However, the driver testified that while they were en route, the person who had arranged the trip messaged him through the application and asked whether there were “one or two girls” in the car.

The driver replied that only one woman was with him. The customer then remarked that on a previous occasion he paid for one girl, but two had shown up.

The driver told the court he found the exchange odd. He said that it made no difference to him since his vehicle could accommodate up to four passengers and the fare remained the same.

The witness dropped the woman off near the Marsaskala seafront, close to a bus stop.

Although the woman had apparently been under the impression that the fare had already been settled, this was not the case, and she ended up having to pay the driver in cash.

The driver recalled that upon arriving at the destination, a young man came out and appeared ready to pay for the trip. However, he informed him that the fare had already been settled, and the man left shortly afterwards.

House owner recounts repeated break-ins

The owner of the property where the alleged rape happened testified that the house, which had belonged to his late aunts, had stood empty for around three years and was earmarked for demolition.

He said a planning application concerning the site had long been pending and that the utilities were in the process of being disconnected.

In March, he discovered that the electricity meter had been tampered with, and later removed altogether and subsequently filed a police report.

The witness said the front door had been forced open on at least three separate occasions.

The first time, he noticed wardrobes had been rummaged through but found nothing of value missing.

By the third break-in, the signs of occupation had become more evident.

Coffee cups had been left behind and, upstairs, he found a sink smashed inside one of the bedrooms.

He described the layout of the building as a two-storey building consisting of a sitting room, a bathroom and two bedrooms – one larger than the other – with stairs leading up to the roof.

Asked whether he had ever inspected the property in detail after discovering the break-ins, he replied that he had occasionally gone upstairs but had not paid much attention beyond noticing the damaged sink and other disturbances.

Forensic expert

Meanwhile, forensic expert Edward Cherubino also took the stand, confirming details of the account the woman had previously given to investigators after reporting the alleged assault to police.

He testified that the woman, whom he examined at Mater Dei Hospital two days later, had sustained a visible abrasion on her right buttock. DNA swabs were also taken and handed over for forensic analysis.

Victim to testify by videoconference

Defence lawyer Franco Debono told the court that the defence had no objection to the victim testifying through videoconferencing during the next sitting.

However, he indicated that should the woman fail to testify, he intended to request bail for his clients, saying they had a clean criminal record.

The prosecution was quick to hit back.

“From the evidence we have heard, we are speaking about so many different atrocities,” prosecutors remarked.

Police had previously told the court that they believe the case could be only “the tip of the iceberg” and are investigating the possibility that there may be additional victims.

AG lawyers Clive Aquilina and Jennifer Polidano prosecuted, together with Inspectors Lydon Zammit, Keith Rizzo and Chantelle Mifsud.

Lawyers Franco Debono, Adreana Zammit, Jean Paul Sammut, Kyle Briffa, Matthew Mamo and Martina Herrera appeared for the accused.

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