The jury of a man who is to stand trial over alleged rape and sexual abuse of a 13-year-old has been dissolved after the head juror informed the court the defence leading the case is his lawyer in a separate case against him. 

The defence informed the court they had never seen or made contact with the juror. 

During the first few minutes of a trial by jury set to begin today against a 56-year-old man from Bormla, who is accused of aggravated rape and a series of sexual acts against a 13-year-old girl, was dissolved after the head juror stood up during the beginning of the proceedings, claiming that he wasn't sure if he was meant to tell the court that the defence lawyer of the trial is his lawyer in separate proceedings. 

Judge Consuelo Scerri Herrera was left with no option but to dissolve the jury due to the fact that the jury had already been chosen and proceedings had begun. She added that this information was meant to be shared before the jurors were even chosen. 

After the jurors were told to leave, the defence, led by lawyers Mario and Nicholas Mifsud, as well as Nicole Falzon, explained that the type of case that the juror has is one where the defence never makes contact with the client until the day of, adding that it concerns hunting charges against the juror. 

Moreover, they excused themselves for the incident, adding that in no way were they trying to hide information from the court, emphasising that they had never seen or made contact with the head juror before. 

The case will now have to start procedures from scratch. 

Judge Consuelo Scerri Herrera presided. Defence lawyers Mario Mifsud, Nicholas Mifsud and Nicole Falzon led the defence. Ag lawyers Darlene Grima and Jennifer Polidano represented the prosecution.