UK lawyer to join British woman’s legal team in Cyprus rape case

PARALIMNI, Cyprus — Court proceedings against a 19-year-old British woman who faces a public nuisance charge for falsely accusing 12 Israelis of rape have been adjourned until August 27 in order to give her new legal team time to prepare their defense.

A defense lawyer tells Paralimni court judge today that the defense team is waiting for a reply from Cyprus’ attorney general to a written request seeking authorization for UK lawyer Lewis Power Q.C. to also represent the British woman along with Cypriot lawyer Nicoletta Charalambidou.

The British woman’s former lawyer resigned because of a “serious disagreement” with his client. His resignation followed UK media reports that the woman claimed she was forced by Cypriot investigators to retract her original rape report. Cypriot police denied the allegation.

— AP