May 10 - Man Accused Of Rape Gives Evidence In Supreme Court Trial
A 28-year-old man accused of raping a teenage girl under the age of 16 gave evidence today at a Supreme Court trial.
Darryl Martinez, of Glacis Estate, took to the stand a week into the trial facing several allegations including sexual assault and one count of raping a girl under the age of 16.
It is alleged Martinez raped a 15-year-old girl (complainant ‘A’) in February 2012, and attempted to rape a 14-year-old girl (complainant ‘B’) at some time between 2009 and 2010 in two separate incidents. He denies these allegations.
After hearing evidence from B yesterday, Puisne Judge Karen Ramagge Prescott put forward a ruling to find Martinez not guilty for attempting to rape a girl under the age of 16 as there was insufficient evidence.
When questioned by prosecutor Ricky Rhoda QC, Martinez claimed he wasn’t aware victim A was 15 at time, and had asked her her age. Martinez claimed that A had replied that she was 16.
The jury heard how Martinez met A through a mutual friend, and he had been in her flat with 15 other people on a Friday night in February 2012 when she allegedly instigated sex with him. They continued to have sex throughout the weekend.
Mr Rhoda asked the defendant how the two complainants came to have similar stories and bruises on their wrists from allegedly being tied up by him. Mr Rhoda added that there are other similarities between the stories in that they are both under aged girls, and added that it is either a coincidence, or the victims are working in a conspiracy to frame the defendant or that he actually did what they had claimed. The defendant said he had no idea why they would accuse him of these charges other than personal gain, but could not say what this was.
Mr Rhoda asked the defendant how he came to meet A and B as they were both quite young at the time of the incidents, and Martinez replied that he knew them through mutual friends.
Prosecutor Mr Rhoda, together with Kerrin Drago appear for the Crown, and Keith Azopardi QC and Justin Rodriguez appear for the defendant.
The trial is expected to conclude tomorrow.
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