Young woman called brother minutes before being raped

A 21-year-old woman who last year was allegedly raped by two Somali men in Hal Far called her brother moments before the alleged rape – telling him that she was ‘with four’ before she hung up, a court heard today.

The revelation was made this morning in the compilation of evidence against Abdiraman Abukar and Liban Mohamoud. The two Somali men, who are both aged 27 years old, are pleading not guilty to raping a 21-year-old Italian woman in Hal Far on March 25, 2013.

The Italian woman had identified the two Somalis as her rapists.

Summoned by the prosecution this morning, the victim’s brother, whose name cannot be published to protect the identity of the victim, explained the circumstances leading to his sister’s rape.

The man, whose name cannot be published to protect the identity of his siter, told the court that on the night, he and his girlfriend were on their way home from Paceville.

“While we were driving in a friend’s car, my girlfriend started throwing up, and we got out of the car and stopped in Floriana. As I continued to help my girlfriend, I received a phone call from my sister.”

“My sister told me that she was ‘with four’ and then she hung up,” the man said.

Explaining that the phone call only lasted between three and five seconds, the victim’s brother told the court that he did not make anything of the phone call because his sister “sounded normal.”

“I did not make anything of the phone call because I was panicking while taking care of my girlfriend.”

“My sister sounded normal, so I did not phone her back. She did not call for help either. Had I knew what was going, or had I heard my sister crying, I would have phoned her again,” the victim’s brother explained.

During previous sittings, the court had heard that DNA examinations made on scrapings and semen gathered off the victim's clothes and from under her nails, matched the DNA taken from the accused.

Moreover, Charles de Flacia – who was previously summoned by the prosecution – had told the court that on the day of the alleged rape, Abdiraman Abukar had boaster that “they had a good time with the Italian.. many times.”

De Flacia had also told the court that the accused had picked up their victim from Valletta before taking to Hal Far, where she was repeatedly raped.

Abdiraman Abukar and Liban Mohamoud are also charged with violent indecent assault, holding the woman against her will, harassing her, offending public morals and slightly injuring her.

The case continues.