An Italian court has acquitted a school aide of charges of sexual assault against a student, determining that the contact lasted only “5 to 10 seconds” and was not driven by “libidinous or lusty intent.”
The incident occurred at the Roberto Rossellini high school in Rome when 17-year-old “Laura” and her friend were climbing the school stairs. As Laura pulled up her pants, 66-year-old Antonio Avola approached her from behind, inserted his hand into her trousers, and lifted her slightly by her underwear.
In his defense, Avola admitted to the act but claimed it was meant as a joke. Prosecutors sought a prison sentence of three-and-a-half years. However, on July 6, the court ruled that the brief contact raised enough doubt about Avola’s intentions and found the defense’s argument of it being a joke “convincing.”