Edward Marchesi A case that has shocked public opinion and sparked considerable controversy. The Turin Court of Appeal has ordered the return to prison of the 42-year-old Bangladeshi clerk accused of sexually assaulting a thirteen-year-old girl and a woman in her 40s. The incidents occurred on August 28th at a convenience store in the Piedmont capital.
The judges' decision came after the September 14 hearing, during which the court reserved its decision. The judges granted the request of prosecutor Eleonora Sciorella, who on September 1 had appealed the preliminary investigations judge's release order. On August 31, the latter had ordered the man to sign in daily to the judicial police.
The controversies and statements of the accused
The man, defended by attorney Francesca D'Urzo, will not immediately return to prison, as the review court's decision does not take effect immediately and the defense can appeal to the Supreme Court of Cassation . The clerk had been in prison for two days, but the investigating judge did not validate the order because, in his opinion, there was no risk of his escape.
Although he found "serious evidence of guilt", he did not order prison, stating that the obligation to report to the police daily was sufficient.
The judge's decision, once made public, sparked considerable controversy. Minister Carlo Nordio announced the dispatch of inspectors to the Turin courthouse. Meanwhile, prosecutors had filed an appeal with the Court of Appeal, highlighting the risk of absconding and the risk of repeating the crime.
On Monday, September 14, the suspect did not appear at the preliminary hearing but submitted to the court a statement containing his spontaneous statements. The two-page statement, written in block capitals with the help of an interpreter and signed by his lawyer, reiterates his remorse, states his intention to no longer work in public service, and, most importantly, expresses his willingness to pursue a program for abusive men.
The investigations and the testimonies
The investigation is being coordinated by Deputy Prosecutor Eleonora Sciorella. The defense has also appealed the preliminary investigations judge's order, which acknowledged the presence of serious evidence of guilt but did not confirm the arrest, deeming there to be no risk of flight. The judge had ordered a daily signature requirement for the judicial police as a precautionary measure.
The 42-year-old was released after 48 hours in prison. He had previously expressed regret for what happened to the thirteen-year-old, who had entered the store to buy some drinks and then fled. The girl, terrified and in shock, immediately called her mother. The harassment was reportedly captured on the store's security cameras.
Video surveillance footage, acquired by investigators, also reportedly documented a previous incident involving another woman, a forty-year-old who has not yet been identified and who has not filed a complaint. The incident had also taken on political and institutional significance. Justice Minister Carlo Nordio had ordered inspectors to be sent "to obtain every useful assessment" of the incident.
The suspect's statements
In statements submitted to the preliminary investigations court, the suspect reiterated his remorse and expressed his intention to no longer engage in activities involving contact with the public. He also stated his intention to enroll in a program for abusive men and expressed his willingness to wear an electronic bracelet if a precautionary measure prohibiting him from approaching the victim was ordered.
The case therefore remains open on several fronts: on the one hand, the prosecutor's appeal to obtain custody, and on the other, the defense's appeal against the preliminary hearing judge's order. The next hearing is scheduled for October 17th.