Israeli Teen Accused of Rape of British Tourist Cleared by Girlfriend’s ‘Selfie’

Israeli tourists, suspected of raping a 19-year-old British girl in Ayia Napa, arrive to the court premises with their faces covered in the eastern Cypriot resort of Paralimni on July 26, 2019, for a second hearing. IAKOVOS HATZISTAVROU/AFP/Getty Images

Five of 12 Israeli teens have been cleared of rape allegations in a case involving a 19-year-old British tourist, according to reports.

One of the teenagers was found innocent after a selfie surfaced showing him sleeping next to his girlfriend on the night in question, reported the NY Post.

“My girlfriend’s selfie saved my life, I will never come back here ever again,” the teen, who was not named, told reporters after arriving home, according to the Jerusalem Post.

Twelve Israeli teenagers, ranging in ages from 15 to 18, were arrested in Ayia Napa, Cypress, on July 17 after being accused by a 19-year-old British tourist of gang rape in a hotel room.

The British woman said the teenagers forcibly held her down in a room at the Pambos Napa Rocks Hotel on July 17 and raped her one by one, according to local police, reported Times of Israel.

According to reports, the young woman was previously in a relationship with at least one of the men accused, but said that on the night in question, the incident that occurred at the resort was not consensual, the newspaper reported.

“I do remember that until about 1 a.m., the friends I did not know raped me, some wore a condom, and some didn’t. They hurt my whole body… one of them held me down, and then I saw at least 12 faces … for an hour or so, one after the other,” she told police, reported the New York Post.

“After they let me go I fainted, and then I ran out of the room, met friends and they took me half-naked to the clinic,” she said.

Israeli tourists, suspected of raping a 19-year-old British girl in Ayia Napa, leave the court after a hearing in the eastern Cypriot resort of Paralimni on July 26, 2019. IAKOVOS HATZISTAVROU/AFP/Getty Images

Some of the suspects claimed the sexual encounter with the British tourist was consensual. One teen even provided police with video of the incident, while nine of them said they were merely present in the room. Three of the teenagers refused to answer any questions from police, according to Times of Israel.

Police recovered 13 condom wrappers and five used condoms in the room where the rape is alleged to have occurred, the newspaper reported.

DNA Tests Clear Five Suspects of Rape

Five of the teens were cleared on July 25 after DNA tests proved their innocence.

“Cracks begin to form in the complainant’s version. I am hopeful that the version of the other suspects will refute the harsh accusations against them," Attorney Ian Yaslovich, who represents some of the boys, told reporters.

Another teenager accused of the crime said, “I’m not guilty, everything is all right,” according to Ynet news.

The seven other teens are still in custody and are set to appear in court Friday, July 26.

Israeli tourists, suspected of raping a 19-year-old British girl in Ayia Napa, arrive to the court premises with their faces covered in the eastern Cypriot resort of Paralimni on July 26, 2019, for a second hearing. IAKOVOS HATZISTAVROU/AFP/Getty Images

“I was sitting in my room, I don’t know how they got in but suddenly two police officers jumped me and cuffed me. At first I did not understand what they wanted, but at the station a translator told me, ‘You are suspected of raping a girl,’” the teen, whose girlfriend took the selfie that cleared his name, told an Israeli television station about the night he was arrested.

The teenager, who was not named, told police, “go ask my girlfriend, I was with her, we have pictures together. I don’t understand how they didn’t check that,” reported the New York Post.