A historic sentence: for the first time, in the Vatican, a sentence is issued for abuses perpetrated on the territory. Gabriele Martinelli, a former student of the Pius sentenced to two years and six months because he was found guilty of the crime of corruption of minors. The Court of Appeal has the first degree acquittal sentence was overturnedpronounced in Court on 6 October 2021, regarding accusations of rape and acts of lust against a seminarian (but probably more than one) whom he was tutoring, in August 2010.
So, Gabriele Martinelli he had been acquitted due to insufficient evidence for some crimes and deemed not punishable for others, because the disputed facts dated back to when he was a minor and others had expired. In addition to him, Don Enrico Radice, former rector of the Preseminary, accused of aiding and abetting, was also acquitted.
According to the indictment, Gabriele Martinelli, “abusing the relationship of trust”, forced his young partner into unwanted relationships for years. «When he carried out sexual acts towards me I felt inside myself, as well as a strong sense of helplessness“, the victim had confided to the Vatican's promoter of justice, “even a marked sense of shame for what could have happened if my companions had known what was happening to me.”
The victim's roommate, a young Polish man, confirms the story of the violence: «I remember that a few times he tried to send Gabriele away even by uttering vulgar expressions… When Martinelli entered the room during the night, he often tried to oppose but Martinelli was very insistent: I remember swearing, attempts at physical rejection and things like that.”
The court, meeting yesterday in the Council Chamber, decided that Martinelli «is not punishable limited to the facts contested up to 2 August 2008, as he is under 16 years of age» and acquits him «of the crimes accused of him in relation to the period following the 9 August 2008 due to insufficient evidence”, but considers him “guilty of the crime of corruption of minors”.
Source: Vanity Fair
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