The court is to decide whether a case is to continue being heard behind closed doors after the prosecution made a request halfway through the proceedings.

Johan Stellingwerf, charged with raping a woman,  is challenging the police to prosecute the woman for filing a false police report and lying under oath. 

The proceedings dealing with his charges of rape were being heard in the open, but following media reports on the case, the prosecution asked for it to be heard behind closed doors. The request was accepted by the court. 

The challenge proceedings were also being heard in the open, but the prosecution today asked for it to be otherwise, arguing that it could offend public morals.

Defence counsel Jason Grima said it makes no sense that the prosecution is making this request now, after three sittings which have already been reported. He said that the prosecution made the same move in the criminal case, after a half of court sittings.

In the last sitting, Mr Stellingwerf presented 1,300 photos to the court to prove that the two were in a 'happy relationship', during the months she is claiming to have been raped. 

Gianella De Marco, acting parte civile for the woman, said that Mr Stellingwerf was trying to bypass the court's decision by opening up separate proceedings. She said that the woman felt embarrassed at the details emerging in court.

The court has now asked both parties to make a request in writing and the case has been postponed to October.