Rape case: Court witness held in lock-up after changing his testimony

Updated - A court expert,  Dr Marisa Cassar, said today that she had found semen on the clothes of an Italian woman who was allegedly raped by two Somali men at Hal Far last month. Giving evidence in the rape case against Abdiraman Abukar and Liban Mohamud, both 26 of Floriana, she said she analyzed the victim's clothes and  tested positive for semen of the two accused. DNA belonging to Abdiraman Abukar was found under her finger nails.  Charles de Flavia, 62, said he lived with the two accused and another two men and he let them use his car, a grey Kia Mentor. He said that on the night in question, the two Somalis had returned home at about 4 a.m. Abdiraman Abukar told him that 'they' had had sex with the victim three times. Liban said nothing. Mr de Flavialater then changed his reference to 'they' to 'he' with reference to Abdiraman Abukar. Magistrate Peralta warned him to tell the truth as he was under oath. Mr de Flavia said that Abukar told him that he had grabbed the woman by the throat and assaulted her. At this point Magistrate Carol Peralta told him that he had a feeling that the witness was trying to protect Liban Mohamud. He ordered that he be kept in the lock-up for 15...