Current:Home > MarketsItalian court sparks outrage in clearing man of sexual assault for "quick grope" of teen student-LoTradeCoin
Italian court sparks outrage in clearing man of sexual assault for "quick grope" of teen student
View Date:2024-12-23 19:57:24
An Italian court has cleared a school aide from charges of sexually assaulting a student, determining that the aide only touched the student for "5 to 10 seconds" without "libidinous or lusty intent."
The 17-year-old Roman high school student – known only as "Laura" — was climbing school stairs with a friend when she hiked up her pants. That's when 66-year-old Antonio Avola came up behind her, slipped his hand inside her trousers and lifted her slightly in the air by her underwear.
Avola admitted to touching the girl in the April 2022 incident, at the Roberto Rossellini high school in Rome, but insisted that he did so only as a joke. Roman prosecutors asked for a jail term of three-and-a-half years. However, the court ruled on July 6 that the contact was so brief that it left "ample margins of doubt" about Avola's intentions, and said it found the defense argument that it had been a joke "convincing."
Laura, who is now 18, told Italian daily newspaper Corriere della Sera, "The janitor came up from behind without saying anything. Then he put his hands down my trousers and inside my panties. He groped my butt," the teen said. "Then he pulled me up so much that my private parts hurt. This, at least for me, is not a joke."
The court ruled that because there was no intent to molest the student, no crime had been committed, and that the aide's actions had been "clumsy" but devoid of lust. "The suddenness of the action, without any insistence on the touch, to be considered 'almost a light touch" does not allow for the interpretation of the libidinous or concupiscent intent generally required by criminal law," the judge wrote in his opinion.
"I felt anger" upon learning the verdict, Laura told Corriere della Sera. "This is not justice. I'm beginning to think I've been wrong to trust the institutions because I feel twice betrayed – first at school, where the event happened, and then by the court."
Tullia Nargiso, coordinator of a regional high school students organization, told Italian media, "we are outraged by the motivation of the sentence. Once again harassment is not recognized as such for an absurd reason, this time by virtue of its duration."
The ruling has incited outrage in Italy, where both men and women have posted videos of themselves on social media under the hashtag "#10secondi" ("10 seconds") or "#palpatebreve" ("quick grope"). The videos show the men and women caressing themselves or others alongside a timer counting down for 10 seconds, underscoring just how long that is.
The social media campaign was launched by actor Paolo Camilli, who starred in the "White Lotus" TV series. As he fondles his chest for 10 seconds, he says in Italian, "If this is not harassment, what is?"
- In:
- Italy
- Sexual Assault
veryGood! (5)
Related
- Whoopi Goldberg calling herself 'a working person' garners criticism from 'The View' fans
- What's Making Us Happy: A guide to your weekend viewing, listening and reading
- Can 17-year-old 'Euphoria' star become boxing's next big thing? Jake Paul thinks so
- Kate Somerville Spills the Secret to Looking Younger Instantly & It's Super Easy
- Kentucky woman seeking abortion files lawsuit over state bans
- Menendez brothers await a decision they hope will free them
- Clippers guard Russell Westbrook breaks left hand in first half against Wizards
- Returning to Ukraine's front line, CBS News finds towns falling to Russia, and troops begging for help
- Fire crews on both US coasts battle wildfires, 1 dead; Veterans Day ceremony postponed
- Powerful storm in California and Nevada shuts interstate and dumps snow on mountains
Ranking
- Ex-Marine misused a combat technique in fatal chokehold of NYC subway rider, trainer testifies
- 'Wait Wait' for March 2, 2024: Live in Austin with Danny Brown!
- Have the Courage To Wear a Full Denim Look This Spring With Coach’s New Jean-Inspired Drop
- New Research Shows Emissions From Cars and Power Plants Can Hinder Insects’ Search for the Plants They Pollinate
- Ariana Grande Shares Dad's Emotional Reaction to Using His Last Name in Wicked Credits
- Ex-NFL player Chad Wheeler sentenced to 81 months in prison; survivor of attack reacts
- Fashion Icon Iris Apfel Dead at 102
- A White House Advisor and Environmental Justice Activist Wants Immediate Help for Two Historically Black Communities in Alabama
Recommendation
-
Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson weighs in on report that he would 'pee in a bottle' on set
-
You'll Want to Check Out Justin Bieber's New Wax Figure More Than One Time
-
'Wait Wait' for March 2, 2024: Live in Austin with Danny Brown!
-
Trump wins the Missouri caucuses and sweeps Michigan GOP convention as he moves closer to nomination
-
NBA players express concern for ex-player Kyle Singler after social media post
-
Did Charlotte the stingray give birth? Fans, social media are abuzz as 'baby' watch begins
-
Kansas City Chiefs WR Mecole Hardman denies leaking New York Jets' game plans
-
National Pig Day: Piglet used as 'football' in game of catch finds forever home after rescue