Sant'Agnello, he occupied the churchyard with his trucks: businessman Langellotto acquitted

The legal case surrounding the occupation of the churchyard of the Church of Saints Prisco and Agnello in Sant'Agnello is not yet over. On September 15, 2026, the Court of Torre Annunziata, following a summary trial, acquitted Salvatore Langellotto of the charges, finding that the act did not constitute a crime.

At the heart of the proceedings is what happened on December 30, 2023, when five trucks belonging to the Napoli Uno company were allegedly driven into the municipal area in front of the church. According to the reconstruction contained in the documents, to gain access to the area, the chain that normally prevented vehicles from entering was forced, without the required municipal authorization.

The presence of the trucks also apparently blocked traffic on the surrounding streets. The vehicles were then blessed by the church's pastor, and Langellotto later posted a video of the ceremony on various media platforms.

The Court, while holding that the material element of the crime was present, ruled out the presence of the specific intent required for a charge. Specifically, the judge found neither the intent to occupy the area nor the intent to profit from it to be apparent.

In its ruling, the Court noted that the occupation of the churchyard lasted at least 40 minutes and was carried out "violently and in a tumultuous manner, given the size and number of vehicles, which paralyzed traffic in the surrounding streets, as well as the forcing of the chain placed to delimit the square."

As for the purpose pursued, the sentence notes that "the benefit sought by the defendant consisted in the celebration of the religious rite and, presumably, in the visibility deriving from the interview."

According to the Court, however, this utility was not directly linked to the occupation of the area. "It did not derive from the possession or enjoyment of the square, which was merely the contingent location chosen for the event," the reasoning states.

The judge therefore held that the "moral" advantage and any promotional benefit were merely occasional consequences of the conduct and not a profit deriving from the use of the property in the sense required by Article 633 of the Criminal Code.

The Prosecutor's Office, however, disagrees with this conclusion. The Office has appealed the acquittal to the Supreme Court of Cassation, asking the Supreme Court to review the Torre Annunziata Court's decision. The case is now being examined by the Supreme Court, while Langellotto's acquittal remains in place.