A Libyan man has been cleared of rape in the course of criminal proceedings which the prosecution described as “a very serious case of domestic violence” after his partner claimed that she could not remember the events which took place.

The 30-year-old resident of St Paul’s Bay, Ans Algheziwi, coming from Tripoli, has already been convicted of rape in the past, having been sentenced to three years imprisonment over the serious crime.

Algheziwi was arrested on 7 January after his partner filed a police report at the Qawra Police Station. The police heard how the pair had been together for the last six months. He was charged with rape, injuring his partner, threatening her, assaulting her and relapsing.

The woman had multiple bruises and bite marks on her body, visible for the police and court to see. Prosecuting Inspector Godwin Scerri told presiding magistrate Charmaine Galea that despite the victim’s injuries being certified as minor, the police are treating the case as one of serious domestic violence.

During the initial arraignment, lawyers Franco Debono and Marion Camilleri, representing the accused, pleaded not guilty but did not make a request for bail on the basis that both parties are foreign nationals with little ties to the island and the pair share an address.

When the woman took the witness stand during this morning’s proceedings, she told the magistrate that she had no recollection of what prompted her to file the report against her partner.

The court had no choice but to dismiss the charges against the accused over a lack of evidence. Algheziwi was acquitted of the charges brought against him.

Inspector Godwin Scerri prosecuted.