Man charged with raping woman, stalking and harassing her for over a year
Joseph Zahra allegedly hit victim when she refused to have sex with him on another occassion
A man was charged with raping a woman, stalking her and harassing her over the period of a year.
Joseph Zahra, 43, from Ħal Far pleaded not guilty to rape, sexual assault, causing the woman to fear him, stalking and harassing her, threatening and assaulting her between March 2025 and March 2026.
He was also charged with breaching previously granted bail conditions.
The prosecution is claiming the accused raped the woman, who lived in an Open Centre, and forced her to have sex with him on one occasion in a garage.
On another occasion, he followed her and tried to do the same, and he hit her when she refused.
Magistrate Claire Stafrace Zammit turned down his request for bail, and also turned down a request to ban the publication of the name of the accused.
Attorney General Lawyer Jurgen Dalli prosecuted with the assistance of police inspectors Marshall Mallia, Wayne Buhagiar and Antonello Magri.
Lawyer Conrad Borg Manche represented the accused.