Update 01 November 2019: Expert Evidence is Heard in Trial of British Teenager in Cyprus After Reporting Group Rape

JUSTICE ABROAD

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Expert Evidence is Heard in Trial of British Teenager in Cyprus After Reporting Group Rape

Justice Abroad is assisting the British teenager and her family in this matter.  Expert evidence was heard at this  hearing which took place on Friday 1 November 2019 at Larnaca District Court. The teenager is represented by an expert legal team assembled by Justice Abroad comprising of Lewis Power QC, a top barrister from Church Court Chambers at the English Bar of the senior rank of Queen’s Counsel, Cypriot lawyer Nicoletta Charalambidou, an experienced human rights advocate, and Ritsa Pekri, a criminal law expert.

On 1 November 2019, Dr Christine Tizzard, a Chartered Psychologist and expert in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) with over 20 years clinical experience gave evidence for the teenager by video-link from Portsmouth Crown Court. Dr Tizzard exhibited her 12-page report in which she confirmed that the teenager suffers from a severe form of PTSD. Dr Tizzard explained that PTSD is a neuropsychological disorder, caused by extreme trauma or exposure to trauma, which sets up a response in the amygdala, part of the brain, causing large amounts of adrenaline and cortisol to be made by the system. Dr Tizzard also stated in evidence that PTSD sets up a fight or flight response to stress which causes the person to be extremely wired and manic and to do anything possible to escape a difficult situation and that they do not have access to full rational thoughts because of the hyperarousal at these times.

Dr Tizzard also explains that because of the teenager’s fragile mental state, in terms of the PTSD as described above, there is a very grave risk that she would provide evidence or accounts of herself that are not consistent in order to escape a situation that her cognitive system finds overwhelming and that given the teenager’s ‘mental health issues at the time of the retraction statement, as set out in the report, she would have been more likely, than someone not suffering from this mental health condition (PTSD), to agree to retract an allegation… in order to escape the feelings of acute hyperarousal which would be terrifying for her and would cause serious mental and physical symptoms.’  Dr Tizzard also confirmed that the teenager is having flashbacks and nightmares in regard to rape which was causing acute hyperarousal.

Justice Abroad’s Michael Polak has stated that ‘Dr Tizzard, an expert with 20 years’ experience, who specialises in PTSD diagnosis and treatment has confirmed that the teenager was suffering with PTSD at the time of the retraction statement which flies in the face of what was put to the teenager by the prosecution when she gave evidence namely that she was not suffering from this condition. Dr Tizzard also gave strong evidence as to how PTSD affects behaviour and can result in people ending up in the situation of the teenager when placed in difficult situations such as the one she faced during her 8 hour ordeal in the Police station without legal representation or interpretation.’

On Monday 4 November 2019 the Court will set a date when Dr Andrea Nini,  a forensic linguist with the Manchester University whose expertise is utilised by the National Crime Agency in the United Kingdom, will give evidence. He will give evidence in regard to the retraction statement that the Police investigation has stated was written in the teenager’s own words but the defence contest was dictated by the office involved.

The continuation of the family’s quest to achieve justice for their daughter requires further funding in particular for expert and translator fees as well as travel. They continue to raise funds by Go Fund Me page www.gofundme.com/f/Help-Teen-Victim-Get-Justice-In-Cyprus The family wishes to thank all those from the United Kingdom, Israel, and the rest of the world who have contributed to the fundraising campaign at what is a difficult and unexpected time for them and in what they consider to be a very important fight for the teenager’s rights and her future.

Notes to Editors

Justice Abroad, www.justiceabroad.co.uk  has been set up to help those trying to find their way through foreign justice systems with all the associated hurdles that presents. To help such families with these dilemmas and many more, three experts, Michael Polak, a barrister with an international practice focussed on the assistance of foreign nationals in trouble around the world, David Swindle ,  a former Detective Superintendent who has worked on hundreds of murders and complex high profile investigations in the UK and abroad during his 34 years in the police, and David Walters MVO, a former British Diplomat with over thirty years’ experience having served in over a dozen countries around the world, have pooled their extensive experience.  Justice Abroad is endeavouring to ensure that their client experiences a fair, transparent, and unbiased trial process in Cyprus.

Lewis Power QC is a barrister who was called to the Bar of England and Wales in 1990 and achieved the senior rank of Queen’s Counsel (QC) in 2011. He has a strong reputation for fighting difficult cases at trial and advising and advocating in matters with international and cross-jurisdictional elements.

Nicoletta Charalambidou is human rights lawyer with an expertise on European Union law and with a particular interest in victims and suspects rights in criminal procedures and discrimination in the administration of justice. She is also a member to the Legal Experts Advisory Panel of Fair Trials. 

Ritsa Pekri is a civil and criminal law lawyer working with Nicoletta Charalambidou LLC with strong experience in criminal cases and those matters involving human rights related issues.

Justice Abroad is also cooperating with KISA - Action for Equality, Support, Antiracism which is a national NGO active in the field of antidiscrimination and antiracism, including discrimination in the administration of justice and a human rights violations watchdog working in the field of victim and suspects rights under EU law.