MALTA
Malta Today
Matthew Agius 16 December 2014
Fr. Charles Fenech, 54, from Rabat, appeared in the dock before Magistrate Tonio Micallef Trigona this morning, accused of sexually abusing a woman in her 40s.
Fenech’s lawyer, Michael Scriha, requested the case be heard behind closed doors, “as this was the practice in such cases”, however the magistrate was clearly not going to be influenced by this argument, saying that he, “does not care what happened in similar cases, there is no established practice”.
The magistrate said he would ask the public to leave the courtroom for the testimony of the victim and psychiatrist David Cassar. It is unclear whether the other witnesses will be heard in open court, however.
Inspector Louise Calleja, leading the prosecution, said the they would like the victim to testify behind closed doors and the court agreed to this.
The Dominican priest had missed his previous three sittings over the abuse charges, citing poor health.
Fenech is facing charges of violent sexual abuse against a mentally unstable patient, holding the woman against her will and committing indecent acts in public.
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