This is the moment the Vatican court read the verdict of the first trial for alleged sexual abuse committed on Vatican territory.
'Absolves Gabriele Martinelli of the charges against him in relation to the period after August 9, 2008, due to insufficient evidence.'
'Absolves Enrico Radice, in relation to the disputed creation of a letter apparently signed by the Bishop of Como, Msgr. Coletti, because it does not exist.'
The prosecution had asked for a six-year prison sentence for the now priest who was a minor at the time of the crime. He was accused of having abused his peers when they were minors and altar boys at the Vatican. The judge declared that there is not enough evidence to convict him.
There was also a lack of evidence to convict the rector of the altar boys' residence at the time. He was accused of complicity and covering up the abuses.
The events took place between 2007 and 2012, when the accused and alleged victim, both minors, were studying and living at a pre-seminary at the Vatican.
In response to this case, Pope Francis had the pre-seminary moved to premises outside the Vatican, so that the teenage students could be in contact with more people.
JMB
TR: CT
