Victim says perpetrators ‘almost killed her’ before they raped her

Two alleged rapists dragged a young Italian woman to their car before they allegedly raped her and threatened to choke her to death, a court heard today.

The remark 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.

Testifying against her alleged rapists, the victim – whose name has been banned by court order – told the court that on March 25, 2013, she, along with her brother, his girlfriend and a friend, went out for a drink at Paceville after she had finished work in Valletta.

The victim, who repeatedly pointed at the accused as her alleged rapists, told the court that afterwards, her brother drove her back to the Floriana bus terminus at about 3am.

“I was about to cross the road when I saw a vehicle drive towards me. It stopped; a man came out and dragged me in the car. I phoned my brother and told him that I was in a car with four men, but he couldn't understand what was happening,” she said.

The victim explained that despite there being four men in the car, only two of them allegedly raped her, as the other two had left.

“We drove toward the Valletta Waterfront, and one of them got out of the car.  We then continued driving towards Hal Far and on the way there stopped at the traffic lights in Aldo Moro Street.”

“When we stopped one of the accused was holding my neck telling me I was going to die. I started praying that a car would pass but no one passed.”

“I then fainted because I ran out of breath,” she said.

Asked by Magistrate Carol Perlata, the victim recounted they then drove to Hal Far, before the accused – one of whom is now in a wheelchair – pulled her trousers off.

“He removed my trousers, pulled down his trousers to his knees and raped me. The other two men got out of the car, and one of them left,” she said.

The Italian then explained that after the accused had raped her, he got out of the car and lit up a cigarette. In the meantime, the other man got into the car and raped her.

“When they were finished we drove near the Hal Far industrial estate and they pushed me out of the car. I ran away. I never ran so fast in my life,” the victim said.  

Moreover, the victim explained that the accused stole her mobile phone and a ring.

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 boasted that “they had a good time with the Italian...  many times.”

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.

Inspectors Yvonne Farrugia, and Carol Fabri prosecuted while Lawyer Yana Micallef Stafrace represented the accused.