Appeals Court Overturns Controversial Rape Acquittal

Ancona: An Ancona appeals court has overturned a controversial rape acquittal involving a 17-year-old girl. The court originally acquitted the man on the grounds that the alleged victim was capable of imagining the consequences of being alone with a man in a car due to her previous sexual experiences.

According to Ansa News Agency, the appeals court has now sentenced the man, who was 25 at the time of the alleged offence in 2019, to three years in prison. The decision comes after significant public outcry from women’s groups and female members of parliament who were troubled by the initial ruling.

The legal team representing the convicted man has announced intentions to appeal the decision to the supreme Court of Cassation, continuing the legal battle that has attracted national attention.