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Italy: Court confirms 10-year sentence for former priest
The Court of Appeal in Genoa has upheld a ten-year prison sentence for Andrea Melis, the former parish priest of Finale Ligure, for the sexual abuse of an altar boy who was 12 years old at the time of the offenses.
Melis, who also served as the former principal of the Assarotti school in Genoa, was arrested in August 2024. The defense had requested a reduction of the sentence, citing a psychiatric evaluation that, while ruling out semi-insanity, noted certain psychological conditions. The defense also highlighted that Melis had already paid a 50,000 euro provisional compensation to the civil party. However, the appellate judges rejected these arguments and confirmed the original sentence.
The former priest is currently serving house arrest in a community in Umbria and has been suspended from all religious ministries. The defense is expected to review the written motivations of the ruling, due within 90 days, before deciding whether to appeal to the Court of Cassation.
Entities
Andrea Melis · Assarotti School · Court of Appeal of Genoa · Finale Ligure · Umbria
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Melis was the former principal of the Assarotti school in Genoa. www.ilfattoquotidiano.it
- [● 2 SOURCES] The Genoa Court of Appeal confirmed a ten-year prison sentence for Andrea Melis. www.umbria24.it · www.ilfattoquotidiano.it
- [● 2 SOURCES] A psychiatric evaluation excluded semi-insanity but noted relevant psychological conditions. www.umbria24.it · www.ilfattoquotidiano.it
- [● 2 SOURCES] Andrea Melis was convicted of sexual violence against an altar boy who was 12 years old at the time. www.umbria24.it · www.ilfattoquotidiano.it
- [● 2 SOURCES] Melis has been suspended from all religious ministries. www.umbria24.it · www.ilfattoquotidiano.it
- [● 2 SOURCES] Andrea Melis is the former parish priest of Finale Ligure. www.umbria24.it · www.ilfattoquotidiano.it
- [● 2 SOURCES] Melis paid 50,000 euros in provisional compensation to the civil party. www.umbria24.it · www.ilfattoquotidiano.it
- [● 2 SOURCES] Melis is currently under house arrest in a community in Umbria. www.umbria24.it · www.ilfattoquotidiano.it