Italy outraged as court finds victim too ugly to be raped

A demonstration outside Ancona's court after it emerged that two men accused of rape were cleared by female judges because the alleged victim looked ''masculine'' on March 11, 2019. - Copyright Giusy Marinelli/Ropi

By Associated Press with NBC News World News

Published on 13/03/2019 - 14:01

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Two Peruvian men convicted in the 2015 assault successfully argued the woman was too "masculine" to be a victim.

ROME — Italy's justice ministry has ordered a preliminary inquiry into an appeals court ruling that overturned a rape verdict on the grounds that the victim was too ugly to be raped.

The ruling has sparked outrage in Italy, including a flash mob Monday outside the Ancona court where protesters shouted "Shame!" and held up signs saying "indignation."

The appeals sentence was handed down in 2017 — by an all-female panel — but the reasons behind it only emerged when Italy's high court annulled it March 5 and ordered a retrial.

The Court of Cassation said Wednesday its own reasons for ordering the retrial will be issued next month.

The Justice Ministry says two Peruvian men convicted in the 2015 assault successfully argued the woman was too "masculine" to be a victim.

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