Santa Maria Capua Vetere, Rai 3 cameras in the Courthouse: the case of the attack on Professor Morelli in the courtroom

Santa Maria Capua Vetere – The cameras of the program “Un giorno in Pretura”, broadcast on Rai 3, entered the courtroom of Santa Maria Capua Vetere yesterday to document the hearing of the trial against Amedeo Di Maro, 50 years old, accused of a violent attack on Professor Giuseppe Morelli, teacher and vice principal of the “Gallozzi” comprehensive institute. The hearing was followed by the journalist Antonella Nafra.

The defendant, defended by the lawyer Giuseppe Foglia, was sent for trial following the investigations conducted by the Local Police Station and coordinated by the public prosecutor Armando Bosso, present in the courtroom. The charge is aggravated personal injury to a public official, in reference to the institutional role held by the teacher.

The facts

The attack dates back to about a year and a half ago. According to the prosecution's reconstruction, Di Maro violently entered the school building where his daughter was enrolled, acting furiously towards the Professor Morelli, hitting him with a violent punch to the face. The injuries suffered by the teacher were serious: 80 days of prognosis, due to trauma to the eyeball.

According to the investigation, Di Maro acted due to mistaken identity, believing that Professor Morelli was another teacher, accused by some students of having bothered his daughter. The episode occurred while some parents were protesting inside the institute.

The witnesses

During the hearing, several eyewitnesses were heard. Professor Antonio Letizia, a teacher at the same institute, reported that he clearly saw Di Maro violently hit Morelli in the face and that he was in turn pulled by the attacker. He also explained that, at that time, the building was in strict control of student movements, and was unable to explain the presence of the 3rd F class at the site of the attack.

Professor Chiara Martini was subsequently heard, and admitted that she had been subjected to disciplinary proceedings by the Education Authority for what happened during her lesson. The teacher stated that she had authorized telephone contact between students and parents, from which the call that triggered the attack would have originated. Martini also stated that she had not noticed the fight nor had she asked the attacked colleague for explanations about what had happened.

The civil part

Professor Morelli himself filed the complaint, assisted by lawyers Gaetano and Raffaele Crisileo, going to the Police Station to tell the facts. Following the investigations, Di Maro was identified and reported. Lawyer Gaetano Crisileo joined the civil action to obtain a criminal conviction and compensation for damages.

The next steps

In the next hearing, scheduled for October 9th before Judge Alessandra Vona, Professor Giuseppe Morelli will be heard, called to tell directly what happened. Also on that occasion, the presence of the Rai 3 cameras is expected, which will continue to document the trial.