British woman ‘raped by five men in hotel room in Ayia Napa’ bravely walks into court ‘with head held high’ as she gives evidence on first day of trial
A British woman who was allegedly kidnapped and raped by five Israeli men in a hotel room in Ayia Napa last year bravely walked into court yesterday “with her head held high” as she gave evidence on the first day of a trial in Cyprus.
The tourist, 20 years old at the time of the alleged attack in September, was escorted by police to the Famagusta criminal court, where she prepared to testify behind closed doors.
“She is incredibly brave,” said a police officer from Paralimni reported to have said. “She went in with her head held high.”
Her report, after a closely watched trial late last year, is expected to last several days as she bravely shares details of the alleged attack with authorities.
Five from the Israeli city of Majd al-Krum, all between 19 and 20 years old, are accused of assaulting the young woman multiple times at the party resort after forcibly dragging her into a room – which they have denied.
Cypriot police cars transport Israeli tourists to Famagusta court to stand trial for alleged gang rape of a British woman in Ayia Napa a month earlier, on October 5, 2023
Flags fly in front of the Famagusta court in Paralimni on October 5, 2023
Women’s rights activists place a banner in front of the Famagusta court in Paralimni on October 5, 2023
This is what court insiders said The sun the victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is prepared to give evidence ‘if necessary’ until the end of the week.
Judges indicated they would also give her ‘as long as necessary’ to testify in court as she bravely recounts the events that allegedly took place at the Ferandia Gardens hotel last year.
It will be the first time the victim has come face to face with her alleged attackers since she identified them in a police lineup last September.
The defendants have been brought to court from the island’s central prison, where they have been held since October.
All initially pleaded not guilty to charges including rape, sexual assault by penetration, sexual intercourse by force, rape by forcible sexual penetration and kidnapping.
Three later admitted to having sex with the woman, but described it as consensual.
The victim previously told police that she was forcibly dragged into a hotel room and raped several times while on holiday at the resort.
She said she met the men on September 3 at a pool party at the hotel before being taken back to a room where others were waiting.
Forensic examination of the room where the attack allegedly took place later found traces of blood on the floor and on sheets on the bed.
The victim said the man tried to take off her bathing suit as she begged him to let her leave.
The other suspects then allegedly entered the room, where someone had intercourse with her against her will.
Another allegedly forced her to perform oral sex, while two others held her down on the bed, she said.
She said a suspect also held her against a wall and raped her.
The 20-year-old said she managed to lock herself in the bathroom and started screaming for help.
The Briton said she was able to flee the room by pushing the suspects aside and rejoined her friends, who went with her to report the incident to police, she said.
Officers quickly apprehended the suspects, arrested them the day after the alleged attack and immediately charged them.
During pre-trial hearings, the court also heard that several employees had witnessed the aftermath of the alleged attack and would testify.
Employees are said to have seen the victim flee by climbing out of a window on the second floor of the three-star hotel.
The town of Maras (Varosha) in Famagusta in Northern Cyprus on January 17, 2024
The police van carrying five Israelis accused of raping a British woman arrives at the Famagusta District Courthouse in Paralimni, Cyprus, on Tuesday, September 12, 2023.
Yiannis Habaris, the lawyer for three out of five Israelis, speaks on his mobile phone outside the Famagusta District Courthouse in Paralimni, Cyprus, on Tuesday, September 12, 2023.
At an earlier hearing in October, the five Israeli men had entered not guilty pleas to rape, sexual assault by penetration, sexual intercourse by force, rape by forcible sexual penetration, indecent assault against a woman, sexual harassment and kidnapping.
They had appeared in the Famagusta courtroom, which was packed with their relatives who showed up to plead their innocence and show support.
All five defendants had kept a straight face throughout the proceedings but could not contain their emotions as the hearing ended.
Families flocked to hug the defendants before they were led away to return to their cells, with one of the men on trial breaking down in tears as he hugged his mother.