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| Lawyers for woman in Cyprus rape case prepare appeal request | Lawyers for woman in Cyprus rape case prepare appeal request |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Teenager convicted of lying about being gang-raped returns to UK vowing to clear her name | |
| Lawyers for a teenager convicted of lying about being gang-raped in Cyrpus were on Wednesday preparing to lodge an expedited appeal request before the Mediterranean island’s supreme court, as the 19-year-old woman vowed that the fight to clear her name would go on. | Lawyers for a teenager convicted of lying about being gang-raped in Cyrpus were on Wednesday preparing to lodge an expedited appeal request before the Mediterranean island’s supreme court, as the 19-year-old woman vowed that the fight to clear her name would go on. |
| Nicoletta Charalambidou, the human rights lawyer defending the teenager, said: “We are submitting an expedited appeal request to have it heard within six months … We have 10 days from the day of sentencing and plan to use all of them so as to prepare the ground properly.” | Nicoletta Charalambidou, the human rights lawyer defending the teenager, said: “We are submitting an expedited appeal request to have it heard within six months … We have 10 days from the day of sentencing and plan to use all of them so as to prepare the ground properly.” |
| The appeal would aim to quash the public mischief conviction that could haunt the 19-year-old for the rest of her life. Her lawyer, Lewis Power QC, said her legal team would challenge the conviction and were prepared to take the case to the European court of human rights. | |
| Although the case is far from over, Cypriot officials are clearly relieved that the negative publicity that has swirled around the country as a result of the often controversial court proceedings is out of the spotlight – for now. | Although the case is far from over, Cypriot officials are clearly relieved that the negative publicity that has swirled around the country as a result of the often controversial court proceedings is out of the spotlight – for now. |
| The Cyprus Mail, the island’s English-language daily, described authorities as being “cautiously optimistic” about the threat of a tourism boycott of the island. The proposed boycott, initiated on social media, was publicly backed by the teenager’s mother. | The Cyprus Mail, the island’s English-language daily, described authorities as being “cautiously optimistic” about the threat of a tourism boycott of the island. The proposed boycott, initiated on social media, was publicly backed by the teenager’s mother. |
| “There is no indication yet that it has [affected us] despite what some people are saying,” said the deputy tourism minister, Savvas Perdios. | “There is no indication yet that it has [affected us] despite what some people are saying,” said the deputy tourism minister, Savvas Perdios. |
| In Ayia Napa, where the rape was alleged to have happened, owners of the few businesses still open were sanguine about their prospects, if angry at the way the case had evolved. | |
| “Young Brits won’t stop coming here. They love it,” said Agapios Agapiou, a local restaurateur. “Ayia Napa is a small place. Ask anyone and they will tell you too much was made of the story. The court was very lenient with her. If the town had been defamed in England the way Ayia Napa has the girl would have got a much harsher sentence.” | |
| Yiannis Karoussos, mayor of the resort at the time of the alleged gang-rape and now a minister in the government of Nicos Anastasiades, has said repeatedly that the Briton “owes Ayia Napa an apology” for the damage she had caused the town. | Yiannis Karoussos, mayor of the resort at the time of the alleged gang-rape and now a minister in the government of Nicos Anastasiades, has said repeatedly that the Briton “owes Ayia Napa an apology” for the damage she had caused the town. |
| The 19-year-old woman flew into London Heathrow from Larnaca on Tuesday after spending a month in prison. | The 19-year-old woman flew into London Heathrow from Larnaca on Tuesday after spending a month in prison. |
| Earlier in the day, the Briton was handed a four-month jail sentence suspended for three years for wilfully indulging in public mischief for the offence of fabricating “an imaginary crime”. | Earlier in the day, the Briton was handed a four-month jail sentence suspended for three years for wilfully indulging in public mischief for the offence of fabricating “an imaginary crime”. |
| After the sentencing, she hugged her family and legal team, leaving the Famagusta district court in Paralimni in tears. Her mother shouted to supporters outside: “She’s coming home.” | After the sentencing, she hugged her family and legal team, leaving the Famagusta district court in Paralimni in tears. Her mother shouted to supporters outside: “She’s coming home.” |
| Two passengers who had been booked on to the British Airways flight the teenager boarded with her family agreed to take a later plane so she could get home sooner. | Two passengers who had been booked on to the British Airways flight the teenager boarded with her family agreed to take a later plane so she could get home sooner. |
| Speaking to the Sun, the young woman said: “I am innocent and the fight will go on to clear my name. It’s been a nightmare for me, Mum and everyone. Now I just want to be with my friends and family. | Speaking to the Sun, the young woman said: “I am innocent and the fight will go on to clear my name. It’s been a nightmare for me, Mum and everyone. Now I just want to be with my friends and family. |
| “What kept me going was my family and the amazing support of my friends and all other people who got in contact to say they believed me.” | “What kept me going was my family and the amazing support of my friends and all other people who got in contact to say they believed me.” |
| Cypriot police claimed she lied about being attacked by up to 12 Israelis in an Ayia Napa hotel room on 17 July. | Cypriot police claimed she lied about being attacked by up to 12 Israelis in an Ayia Napa hotel room on 17 July. |
| A dozen young men and boys aged between 15 and 20 who had been arrested over the incident were freed after she signed a retraction statement. | A dozen young men and boys aged between 15 and 20 who had been arrested over the incident were freed after she signed a retraction statement. |
| The teenager was then stuck in the country for nearly five months after being charged. She spent four and a half weeks in Nicosia prison before being granted bail on the condition that she surrender her passport. | The teenager was then stuck in the country for nearly five months after being charged. She spent four and a half weeks in Nicosia prison before being granted bail on the condition that she surrender her passport. |
| She maintains that she agreed to consensual sex with one of the Israelis, before he knelt on her shoulders and raped her along with the others – a claim they all deny. | She maintains that she agreed to consensual sex with one of the Israelis, before he knelt on her shoulders and raped her along with the others – a claim they all deny. |
| The woman said she was forced to retract her claim under duress from police following seven hours of questioning without a lawyer or interpreter. | The woman said she was forced to retract her claim under duress from police following seven hours of questioning without a lawyer or interpreter. |
| Dominic Raab, the British foreign secretary, said he had raised concerns about her treatment with Cypriot authorities. | Dominic Raab, the British foreign secretary, said he had raised concerns about her treatment with Cypriot authorities. |
| After the sentence, he said: “We will be following up on some of the issues in relation to the case. I spoke to the Cypriot foreign minister about that.” | After the sentence, he said: “We will be following up on some of the issues in relation to the case. I spoke to the Cypriot foreign minister about that.” |