Two teenage boys who assaulted two girls in a Hamrun public garden in January were each fined €500 today, but a court said that no evidence had been presented to show that this was a case of hate crime. Nor had it been proven that the girls were a lesbian couple.
A 35-year-old woman who was involved in the same case with the boys was fined €50.
The two girls, aged 15 and 16, had alleged they were attacked by the two brothers, aged 15 and 17, who started calling them names when they saw them kissing.
The boys were arraigned along with the 35-year-old woman. The girls too were taken to court, accused of slightly injuring the boys. They were found not guilty.
It had been the two girls themselves who had told the press that they were assaulted because of their sexual orientation
The case caused a strong public reaction, with a public protest against hate crime having been held in Hamrun .There was also condemnation by politicians and the Church.
