A woman who went to the police to file a report that her former partner had raped and beaten her was laughing at the police station, and invited the police to go out for a drink with her, Magistrate Carol Peralta heard yesterday.

In court, was a 34-year-old man from St Paul’s Bay, charged with raping a woman and slightly injuring her when he beat her. He is also charged with scaring the woman.

Sgt Anton Buttigieg said that the woman told him that in July last year, her former partner had gone to her place to pick up his clothes, after they ended their relationship. He was drunk and seeing the state he was in, the woman told him to sleep at her place.

According to the woman, the accused removed his clothing and wanted to have sex but she did not want to have anything to do with him. But in spite of this he raped her and bit her finger in the process.

She filed a report with the police and, Sgt Buttigieg testified, that it was somewhat bizarre that after being allegedly raped she was laughing and even invited the police to go out for a drink with her.

The woman smelt of alcohol and she was taken to Mater Dei Hospital, in the company of a woman constable.

Magistrate Peralta praised the prosecution for the way they presented the facts of the case without taking sides. Constable Gabriella Gatt said she accompanied the woman to the hospital and confirmed that the woman was acting strangely, telling hospital staff that she had been raped and assaulted but not behaving as one who had been raped.

Dr Patrick Valentino was defence counsel. The prosecution was conducted by Inspector Edmond Cuschieri.