Probation for 17-year-olds who raped girl, 14

Two young men have been placed under probation for three years after admitting before a court to raping a 14-year-old girl in Mosta in March last year. A third was placed under probation for two years on admission of participating in the crime by performing sexual acts with the girl. The three were minors at the time of the crime. They also admitted holding the girl against her will. In its considerations on judgement, the court observed that the three were minors at the time of the crime, they had admitted their guilt early in the proceedings, and the prosecution and the defence agreed that what had happened was an act of foolishness by three young men who thought their deed to be some achievement. (att to bluha ta' tlett guvintur minorenni li hasbu le qed jaghmlu xi bravata). The court also observed that the three did not have a criminal record and they should therefore be put under probation so that they could be given direction in life and so that they could understand that what they had done was wrong and should not be repeated.