Sexual assault case against priest Rugolo archived in Enna, complaints against journalists dropped

Last Updated: October 15, 2024

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The Investigating Judge of the Court of Enna, Giuseppe Noto, after the hearing held on October 1st, has dismissed the criminal case against journalists Pierelisa Rizzo and Filippo Occhino, director of the online newspaper Ennalive, as well as the president of the Association Rete l’Abuso, Francesco Zanardi, who were reported by the priest Giuseppe Rugolo for defamation and for disclosing court documents in an article published on June 28, 2023. The priest, already convicted by the Court of Enna for sexual violence against minors, considered defamatory the statement in the article that described the priest’s inappropriate behavior, captured in a video replayed in court while showering with a minor.

The judge, accepting the request for dismissal from the Enna Prosecutor’s Office and the defenses of the suspects, issued an order of dismissal stating that the articles were not defamatory as Pierelisa Rizzo simply reported truthfully what happened during the June 27, 2023 hearing. The hypothesis of the offense of disclosing court documents was also dismissed since there was no prohibition on publication.