The Famagusta District Court continued the trial for the gang rape of the 20-year-old British tourist by five Israelis on September 3 in a hotel room in Ayia Napa.
The DailyMail reports in its report that the proceedings were held behind closed doors and that the 20-year-old British woman accompanied by police officers presented herself as a witness to give her own evidence in relation to the case.
According to the DailyMail, the 20-year-old “was extremely brave. He entered the room with his head held high."
The testimony and cross-examination of the 20-year-old is expected to last for several days. During the trial, the judge assured that he would give the British woman as much time as she needed for her testimony.
It is noted that it was the first time that the victim and alleged perpetrators were face to face since he saw them in a reconnaissance lineup last September.
The defendants face five counts of rape, penetrative sexual abuse, forcible intercourse, coercion of intercourse or other acts of a sexual nature, indecent assault on a female, sexual harassment and kidnapping.
It is recalled that the Criminal Court of Famagusta, with its interim decision in the context of a trial within a trial for the gang rape of a 20-year-old woman in Ayia Napa, which was held at the request of the Defense Lawyer of defendants 4 and 5, rejected the DNA testimony as having been taken in violation of Article 15 of the Constitution and 8 of the ECHR since they were taken following incomplete information of the accused.
British media, commenting on the decision, note that the decision to reject the DNA will affect the progress of the trial, as the court will rely on testimonies, including that of the alleged victim.
According to the DailyMail, before the court, it was known that employees of the hotel had seen what followed the alleged attack and how the 20-year-old managed to escape from the window of the second floor of the hotel.