Salerno – The case involving five Carabinieri officers from the Salerno mobile radio unit, under investigation for alleged aggravated assault on a 53-year-old man during an arrest in March 2020, at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, has ended with a full acquittal. The Salerno Court ruled that "the act did not constitute a crime," ending a six-year proceeding.
The operation took place during a frantic night marked by a dangerous pursuit. The arrested man—as recalled by Giovanni Annunziata, the lawyer representing the five officers—was traveling on the highway "without tires and with his car on fire," putting his safety and that of other road users at risk. Once stopped, the 53-year-old allegedly resisted arrest, forcing the Carabinieri to resort to more aggressive intervention than usual.
The scene was filmed on cell phones by passersby. The videos, shared on social media, generated a significant media outcry and formed the basis for the investigation launched by the Salerno Prosecutor's Office. Those images, which quickly spread online, sparked public debate about the military's actions and led to the opening of criminal proceedings.
"In this case, clarification was needed and the professional dignity of five Carabinieri officers who performed their duties properly restored," Annunziata emphasized during a press conference. The lawyer emphasized that the trial did not add any new elements to what had already emerged during the investigation, emphasizing the consequences suffered by the officers: transfers, dismissal from service, and significant repercussions on their careers and personal lives, even before a final sentence.
According to the defense, the acquittal rests on the recognition of the legitimate use of force, a constitutionally guaranteed principle, applied in the context of a high-risk intervention. "A Carabiniere does not act as a private citizen," Annunziata explained, "but as a member of the State, with service obligations that must be carefully assessed."
Michele Capece, deputy secretary general of the New Carabinieri Union, also attended the press conference. He announced the filing of a popular bill with the Supreme Court of Cassation, currently collecting signatures. The aim is to strengthen protections for law enforcement officers by providing direct involvement of the administration in the liability and legal assistance of active-duty military personnel.
"When a Carabiniere intervenes, he does so representing the State," Capece stated, "and it is right that the State share the consequences. In this case, his colleagues paid a very high price for doing their duty, with repercussions that also affected their families."
The acquittal brings to a close one of the most controversial cases to emerge during the pandemic, marked by the media hype of social media and a lengthy legal process that profoundly impacted the lives of the soldiers involved.
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Comments (1)
The article explains the Carabinieri situation well, but I don't understand why it's taking so long to reach a verdict. Six years is a very long time, and those involved have suffered greatly during this time.