Testimony of the British young woman in Cyprus: "Grabbed me with my knees - and raped me"

The young woman accused of making a false complaint about group rape by young Israeli people about five months ago first appeared on the witness stand in the Pralimani court. In light of developments in the trial, the young woman's testimony seems critical in defense

Testimony of the British young woman in Cyprus: "Grabbed me with my knees - and raped me"

The 19-year-old British woman, accused of making a false complaint about group rape by young Israeli youths, went to the witness stand in Famagusta County Court on Tuesday, claiming that "S.'s friends entered the room, he clenched my shoulders with his knees, And they raped me. " She claims that on the night of July 17, a group of Israeli boys raped her, but the police do not believe her. Her trial took place in the city of Pralimani, near the resort town of Ayia Napa.

The young woman's testimony began after she agreed to testify under oath before Judge Michalis Papathanasio, and also face a cross-examination by prosecutor Adamus Demosthanus. The young woman faced two other options that would save her from interrogation: one, to deliver a statement from the defendant's own booth, or to remain silent and leave the court to review the case.

British young woman and her mother at the courtroom last week (Photo: Yoav Itiel)

The British young woman arrives in Cyprus with her mother on November 28, 2019 (Photo: Yoav Itiel, official website)

On the face of it, the referee does not appear to be inclined to accept the defensive position. He stated that the young woman was a unreliable witness, did not accept her confession that she had confessed to the police complaining about her under pressure, trickery or unfairness, and was not convinced by two expert testimony brought by the defense. Having said that "this is a simple case" and given that this incident has been trying to turn out for almost five months in this court, the young woman's testimony seems critical in defense.

The doctor who examined her on the morning of the incident also gave evidence against her. The doctor, Dr. Sophocleys Sophocleus, who was referred after the complaint, told the judge that no signs of rape or violence were found on the examination. He noted that he had found some old bruises, and possibly scratches, but wanted to emphasize that "not every scratch or bruise is necessarily the result of violence. ". On a fresh bunch he found on her, he claimed to be more in line with a hit she received from a bump in furniture.

The Law Abroad team represents the young woman and experts on behalf of the organization, and on behalf of the British lawyers Louis Power, a senior lawyer in the rank of Queen's Attorney, Michael Follack and the Cyprus Lawyer Nicolta Harlambido Human Rights Specialist and Law Offices Lawyer Criminal Justice Specialist She claims. At the end of the previous hearing, defense attorney Michael Polk said outside the courtroom: "We never claimed she was kicked, beaten or anything. What we say is that she was held-shut and then the other young men came in and joined us. The medical report reinforces this claim. "

Faced with the judge's expiring patience, the British young woman will have trouble preventing her conviction