Acid-attack victim exits hearing as ex-boyfriend apologizes

Case behind legislation protecting women

 

 

(ANSA) - Pesaro, March 17 - Acid-attack victim Lucia Annibali left a Pescara courtroom Monday when accused attacker and former boyfriend Luca Varani spontaneously spoke out in front of a preliminary hearing judge. Varani, charged with attempted murder after hiring two assailants to throw acid on Annibali in an April 2013 attack, said he was "sorry for everything that happened". He added that things "got out of hand," but took responsibility for initiating the attack. Varani's lawyer said that during the closed-door hearing, a newspaper was shown that cited one of Varani's cellmates as saying that Varani constantly cried and wanted to see Annibali. The case of Annibali, a lawyer, has been credited by the government for helping spark a national conversation surrounding violence against women in Italy. In October parliament passed a 12-point decree that sets harsher penalties for those found guilty of domestic abuse, sexual violence and stalking.

The law also offers greater victim protection, including a shield for migrant women escaping violence.