Post by Trades on Mar 14, 2019 12:59:08 GMT -5
www.thestar.com/news/world/europe/2019/03/13/italy-outraged-as-court-finds-victim-too-ugly-to-be-raped.html
Italy outraged as court finds victim too ugly to be raped
Italy outraged as court finds victim too ugly to be raped
ROME - Italy’s Justice Ministry has ordered a preliminary inquiry into an appeals court ruling that overturned a rape verdict in part by arguing that the woman who was attacked was too ugly to be a credible rape victim.
The ruling has sparked outrage in Italy, prompting a flash mob Monday outside the Ancona court, where protesters shouted “Shame!” and held up signs saying “indignation.”
The Justice Ministry says two Peruvian men convicted in the 2015 assault successfully argued the woman was too “masculine” to be a victim.
The Justice Ministry says two Peruvian men convicted in the 2015 assault successfully argued the woman was too “masculine” to be a victim. (DOMENICO STINELLIS / ASSOCIATED PRESS)
The appeals sentence was handed down in 2017 — by an all-female panel — but the reasons behind it only emerged publicly when Italy’s high court annulled it on March 5 and ordered a retrial. The Court of Cassation said Wednesday its own reasons for ordering the retrial will be issued next month.
Two Peruvian men were initially convicted of the 2015 rape of a Peruvian woman in Ancona, but the Italian appeals court overturned the verdict and absolved them, finding that she was not a credible witness. In part of the ruling, the court noted that the suspects had found her unattractive and too “masculine” to be a credible rape victim.
Cinzia Molinaro, a lawyer for the victim, said her appeal to the Cassation contested a host of procedural problems with the acquittal verdict but said she had also cited the “absolute unacceptability” of the Italian court’s reference to the victim’s physical appearance.
The ruling has sparked outrage in Italy, prompting a flash mob Monday outside the Ancona court, where protesters shouted “Shame!” and held up signs saying “indignation.”
The Justice Ministry says two Peruvian men convicted in the 2015 assault successfully argued the woman was too “masculine” to be a victim.
The Justice Ministry says two Peruvian men convicted in the 2015 assault successfully argued the woman was too “masculine” to be a victim. (DOMENICO STINELLIS / ASSOCIATED PRESS)
The appeals sentence was handed down in 2017 — by an all-female panel — but the reasons behind it only emerged publicly when Italy’s high court annulled it on March 5 and ordered a retrial. The Court of Cassation said Wednesday its own reasons for ordering the retrial will be issued next month.
Two Peruvian men were initially convicted of the 2015 rape of a Peruvian woman in Ancona, but the Italian appeals court overturned the verdict and absolved them, finding that she was not a credible witness. In part of the ruling, the court noted that the suspects had found her unattractive and too “masculine” to be a credible rape victim.
Cinzia Molinaro, a lawyer for the victim, said her appeal to the Cassation contested a host of procedural problems with the acquittal verdict but said she had also cited the “absolute unacceptability” of the Italian court’s reference to the victim’s physical appearance.
