The Famagusta court in Cyprus acquitted five Israeli men of all charges related to the alleged gang rape of a 20-year-old British woman, citing lack of credible evidence in her testimony.
Five Israeli Men Found Not Guilty in High-Profile Rape Case in Cyprus
Five Israeli Men Found Not Guilty in High-Profile Rape Case in Cyprus
Five Israeli defendants cleared of rape charges as inconsistencies in the complainant's testimony affect the court's ruling.
In a significant ruling, the Famagusta criminal court cleared five Israeli men, aged 19 to 20, of serious charges including rape and sexual assault regarding an incident involving a 20-year-old British woman in September 2023. The trial, which commenced in October, saw the defendants, hailing from Majd al-Krum, strongly denying all allegations against them.
The court's decision focused heavily on the credibility of the woman's testimony, identifying numerous inconsistencies and weaknesses, particularly concerning her identification of the accused and the circumstances of the alleged incident. The judges noted that the woman's claims of being forcibly taken from a gathering of roughly 100 individuals were contradicted by a friend who observed her voluntarily going upstairs with another person.
Further scrutiny came as the court revealed that laboratory tests indicated the woman had consumed a considerable amount of alcohol along with narcotics such as MDA and MDMA. However, the judges ruled that this intoxication level did not impair her capacity to consent, as she described only feeling “slightly dizzy” at the time.
The court also expressed skepticism over the woman's assertion that she had called out for help during the event, stating that adjacent witnesses reported hearing nothing. Additionally, it was highlighted that the woman's initial account to police differed from her later statements regarding the number of individuals involved, raising concerns over the reliability of her claims.
Moreover, questions arose about the cause of abrasions found on her body, as the court deemed it uncertain whether these marks were sustained during the alleged assault or were the result of consensual encounters.
A portion of the trial proceedings occurred behind closed doors, emphasizing the sensitivity surrounding such accusations. The case has drawn significant attention, marking an important legal outcome in Cyprus amidst ongoing discussions around consent and sexual violence.
