[WATCH] Husband charged with rape, attempted murder of his wife

Roddy Swinton Williams, 37, was charged after his wife was found inside an underground cavern in Kalkara, having previously been missing for several days

Roddy Swinton Williams, 37, was charged with raping and attempting to kill his wife
Roddy Swinton Williams, 37, was charged with raping and attempting to kill his wife

Roddy Swinton Williams, 37, born in the Seychelles and residing in Fgura was today arraigned before Magistrate Donatella Fenech Dimech on charges of having, between October 27 and 30, held his wife Natalie Williams in a dark and secluded place in Ricasoli in Kalkara.

The man, who is employed as a chef, was charged with keeping his wife without access to food and drink, for several days, with the intent to kill her or put her life in manifest jeopardy. The charges brought against Roddy Williams also included raping his wife in the same cave she was detained in, as well as confining her as a means of compelling her to “commit an act injurious to the modesty of her sex”.

Moreover, he was accused of having also harassed his wife and caused her to fear violence against her or her family.

Natalie Williams was reported missing last Sunday after last having last been seen on Friday. She was found by the authorities on Tuesday night. Speaking to the press, Natalie Williams’ relatives said she had been thrown into the sea before being dragged into the cave.

In addition to the charges brought against Williams over his treatment of his wife Natalie, he was also accused of having been in possession of heroin, leading an idle and vagrant life, threatening police officers, causing slight harm to Natalie Williams’ son Owen Vella, and having disturbed the public peace.

Seen in the courtroom, the accused appeared to have sustained facial injuries prior to his arrest by the police. The court ordered that he receive the necessary medical treatment.

The defence requested bail, noting that the injured party had changed her version of events since first speaking to the police after being found, something which the police corroborated. It said that according to the most recent version, the injured party said she had agreed to meet the accused. 

It also emphasised that the accused was presumed innocent, and that he had been answering police questions consistently.

The prosecution however insisted that the injured party had merely agreed to meet with the accused, and had not agreed to be taken to the location she was found in.

The court denied the request for bail on the grounds that witnesses, in particular the injured party, still had to testify, and in view of the gravity of the nature of the offenses with which the accused stands charged. 

The court said that bail was also denied bearing in mind the tenuous ties the accused had with Malta, coupled to the fact that should bail be granted and the accuse abscond or escape, extradition agreements with the Seychelles are limited. 

The court thus ordered that the accused be held in preventive custody.

The case continues.

Lawyers Franco Debono, Marion Camilleri and Yanika Vidal appeared for the accused, while lawyers Ludvic Caruana and Janice Borg appeared parte civile for the victim.

Inspectors Paula Ciantar and Josric Mifsud prosecuted.