A 20-year-old prison guard accused of raping his 14-year-old former "girlfriend" has been granted bail after the alleged victim and her mother testified during the compilation of evidence.

Bradley Mercieca, from Qrendi, is also accused of subjecting his ex-girlfriend to various sexual acts against her will, of taking indecent photographs and videos of her, threatening and insulting her, and causing her emotional distress.

He denies the charges.

Police investigations had begun after the girl filed a report with the Domestic Violence Unit on 18 September. She told police that she had been in a year long relationship with Mercieca, alleging a very abusive relationship.

The girl alleged that Mercieca repeatedly forced her to engage in sexual acts without her consent and even recorded some encounters. She also alleged that he had threatened to share the footage, to shoot her and to end his own life, if she ended their relationship.

During the sitting before Magistrate Franco Agius, the alleged victim testified behind closed doors. The girl's mother also took the witness stand.

She told the court that on 18 September, she found her daughter hysterical after she had ended her relationship with Mercieca. Her daughter said that Mercieca had allegedly threatened to distribute an intimate video of them unless she agreed to get back together with him.

The mother said Mercieca continued to contact her daughter repeatedly, prompting her to intervene and tell him to stop calling and messaging her. According to the mother, Mercieca also made death threats, prompting them to go to the police and file a report.

The mother also described Mercieca as possessive, telling the court that he had been unhappy when the family went to Gozo and when they travelled abroad together.

She said she did not have a particularly close relationship with Mercieca while he was dating her daughter, a relationship which she understood had lasted around a year and a half. She nevertheless said that Mercieca was welcomed into their home and would visit once or twice a week.

The mother also testified that when she confronted her daughter about the intimate video, the girl told her that she had been forced to carry out the act seen in the footage because she was afraid of being yelled at.

Bail granted

Mercieca had initially been remanded in custody following his arraignment on 22 September.

Following their testimony, defence lawyers Franco Debono and Herman Mula requested bail, arguing the alleged victim had now testified and that her evidence had therefore been preserved.

The prosecution did not object to bail on the grounds of possible tampering with evidence, but argued that stringent conditions should be imposed if bail were granted.

The court ultimately upheld the defence's request and granted Mercieca bail against a €5,000 deposit and a €15,000 personal guarantee.

He was also ordered to observe a curfew and sign the bail book four times weekly. 

The prosecution was led by Attorney General lawyer Cynthia Tomasuolo, together with Inspectors Marshall Mallia and Carlos Cordina. Defence lawyers Franco Debono and Herman Mula appeared for Mercieca. Magistrate Franco Agius is presiding over the case.