Alleged rape victim recounts Paceville assault: ‘I woke up in a bush feeling a sharp pain’

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A 20-year-old alleged victim of rape told a court on Tuesday she regained consciousness in a bush to find what she claimed was the aggressor behind her.

She was testifying via video-conference in proceedings against Jorge Marcelo Villalobos Abanto, a 25-year-old who is facing charges of serious sexual offences allegedly committed in 2025.

 The charges consist of non-consensual sexual acts, including penetration, along with other offences of a sexual nature.

 

‘I was shocked and scared, I didn’t know what to do’

The court heard how the alleged victim was visiting Malta last year and staying at a family friend’s house.

On the night of 22 October, she went to St Julian’s at around 9pm and after drinking for a few hours, she began making her way home at around midnight.

While walking near the Paceville steps, someone called out to the woman. When she turned around, she saw a group of five people, who appeared heavily intoxicated. The victim, who admitted she was also slightly drunk, struck up a conversation with them. According to the victim, the group consisted of three Hungarian nationals, a Maltese man, and the accused, Marcelo.

After chatting about their ages and nationalities, the witness began walking with the group towards Burger King, where they stopped at a local grocery store to buy alcohol, while the victim and the woman sat on the steps outside.

According to the testimony, Marcelo then suggested going to the beach. Although the witness expressed reservations because of the late hour, the group headed down to the rocky part of a nearby beach. There, they sat down and drank more alcohol.

The witness told the court that Marcelo was behaving in a highly flirtatious manner with the Hungarian woman, who was visibly drunk, kissing and touching her.

The mood initially remained social, with the group talking and laughing. However, the alleged victim noted that someone else opened a beer and handed it to her. After consuming the beer and some wine, the witness experienced a massive memory gap.

 

A memory gap

Her next memory was regaining consciousness a few hours later due to a “really sharp pain” in her rear. She found himself a few steps away from where the group had been sitting, standing near some bushes, facing a fence, and holding onto it.

“I woke up, gained consciousness for a split second, and felt the pain. I turned around, and that’s when I saw Marcelo behind me. No one else was there,” the witness stated.

Although she could not recall the immediate aftermath, the victim remembered being on the street, frantic and distressed. She described walking around “like a zombie,” crying and yelling, openly accusing Marcelo of being a rapist.

When questioned by the prosecution as to why she used that specific word, the woman replied that she realised what had happened to her. “I was anally raped. When I felt the pain, it was from behind. I checked with my finger and there was blood,” she said, noting that she later found blood in her underwear.

The witness added that when she confronted Marcelo on the street and called him a rapist, the accused simply “had a smile on his face.” A passer-by eventually approached the crying witness and told her to calm down, initially dismissing her frantic claims as drunken behaviour.

Marcelo reportedly walked away from the scene at that point.

 

Defence’s cross-examination

Under cross-examination, the witness confirmed she was already under the influence of alcohol when she encountered the group near the Paceville steps, having previously consumed two drinks during a happy hour promotion at a St Julian’s bar.

She testified that she had been about to book a Bolt ride home when someone from the group called out to her. Questioned by the defence about the visibility at the scene, the woman noted there was some artificial lighting near the steps. The victim re-asserted her claim that she did not see who had originally opened the beer handed to her.

The witness also confirmed to the defence that she had exchanged Instagram socials with the Hungarian woman that night. The following day, she messaged her to ask for the accused’s name.

Magistrate Ann-Marie Thake presided over the sitting.

Inspectors Wayne Buhagiar, Ryan Vella and James Turner led the prosecution together with AG lawyer Miriayah Borg.

The accused was assisted by defence lawyer Lennox Vella, while lawyer Katya Vassallo was representing parte civile.

If you or someone you know needs support, reach out to professional help services available in Malta.

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