Rape Case
A court’s decision to clear two men of rape despite the victim begging them to stop has prompted outrage across Spain.
The court in Lleida jailed the uncle and nephew for four-and-a-half years for sexual abuse, rather than the graver offence.
A similar verdict in a gang rape case this year prompted large demonstrations against “patriarchal” justice.
Five men were cleared of raping a teenage woman during the San Fermín bull-running festival in Pamplona.
In the latest verdict, the court ruled that the two men had not committed a sexual assault, the equivalent to rape in Spain, because they were deemed not to have used intimidation or violence.
Meanwhile
European countries must overhaul “outdated” laws that let rapists off the hook and perpetuate a culture of victim-blaming, rights groups said on Saturday.
Only eight out of 31 countries surveyed by Amnesty International define rape as sex without consent, according to research published on the eve of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.
The rest have legal definitions of rape based on force, threat of force, coercion or the victim’s inability to defend themselves.
The survey covered the 28 EU countries plus Iceland, Norway and Switzerland.
Spain is planning a new rape law following public outcry this year when five men were cleared of gang-raping a teenager in the Pamplona case.
Migrants
A Libyan Coast Guard patrol rescued 27 illegal immigrants on Friday who were heading to Italian shores.
The media office of the Coast Guard said the migrants were found on a rubber boat 68 miles off the Coast.
During the rescue operation, a Spanish fishing trawler approached the scene and lured the migrants to jump into the water, causing chaos on board the Libyan Coast Guard patrol.
“More than 10 migrants jumped into the water and swam to the Spanish trawler,” the media office reported, adding that later the Spanish Embassy intervened and demanded the handover of migrants back to Libya but the Libyan Coast Guard rejected and urged the Embassy to follow the diplomatic norms by contacting the Libyan government.
Missing Woman
A search has been launched for Norah Garratt
Her Brother, Graham Walker and her family are appealing to anyone who may have seen or heard from her.
Norah has not been seen since Saturday morning and her concerned family have added she suffers from Alzheimers.
Mr Walker is appealing to any friends of Norah that may have information as to her whereabouts to get in touch.
CCTV footage from 5:15am on Saturday morning shows Norah leaving the Gran Bali hotel in Benidorm.
She was wearing blue denim jeans and a striped cream, green and blue long sleeve rugby top.
She may respond to her maiden name Norah Byrne.
Nora celebrated her 63rd birthday last week and is believed to be without a phone or money.