Teenage girls have prison term changed to probation

Two teenage girls, who had been sentenced to two weeks in detention for a case involving “girl violence” had their punishment changed to probation by a court of appeal.

The court noted that the two girls had problems and needed guidance on how to behave responsibly and stop hanging around with bad company. The court said they ought to be taught life skills to overcome any difficulties they faced, rather than be allowed to rebel against society as they were doing with the encouragement of the “pack” they stayed with.

The two girls, aged 13 and 14, had been found guilty of threatening three young girls, who they did not know, in Valletta last March. The 13-year-old was also found guilty of assaulting one of the girls and slightly injuring her. Both accused were sentenced to two weeks in detention, but on appeal argued, amongst other things, that the punishment was excessive.

On evaluating the case, Mr Justice Joseph Galea Debono, in the Court of Criminal Appeal, said the punishment handed down by the first court was within legal parameters. However, when one took into account that the teenagers had a clean criminal record, they were of such a young age and had personal problems, the court felt that a probation order was appropriate in the circumstances.

He placed the girls on probation for three years.