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No shortened trial for the six boys accused of the gang rape of 7 July 2023 at the Foro Italico in Palermo. Angelo Flores, Cristian Barone, Gabriele Di Trapani, Christian Maronia, Samuele La Grassa and Elio Arnao will be tried with the ordinary rite. They are accused of aggravated sexual assault against a 19-year-old. The trial will open on May 15 before the judges of the second section of the Palermo court.
The defendants had submitted a request for admission to the abbreviated trial, conditioning the request to a series of new activities including the examination of the victim in the courtroom. Her request, however, was rejected by the Palermo preliminary hearing judge, Cristina Lo Bue, since the girl “has already been interviewed numerous times” and a new hearing would lead to nothing other than “secondary victimization”. That is, it would force the girl to relive the trauma, or suffer further psychological violence. The 19-year-old was heard by the investigating judge of Palermo, Clelia Maltese, just two and a half months ago, during an evidentiary incident.
The six boys accused of the rape are all in prison. Seven associations will also participate in the trial, having asked to join as civil parties and they were admitted. They are the Millecolori Onlus Association, the National Association of Women in the Network against Violence, the Le Onde Association, the Women’s Library, the consultancy centre, the Insieme a Marianna Aps Association, the Association against all violence and the La Casa di Venere women’s association. The Municipality of Palermo is also admitted as a civil party, and will be represented by the lawyer Roberta Saetta.
