Milan, Sept 17 (LaPresse) – Nearly all of the 10 Milanese anarchists convicted for the February 11, 2023 demonstration in support of Alfredo Cospito were found to have “personally and directly carried out violent actions” against law enforcement with the “clear and evident intent” to “impede or obstruct” police monitoring and their subsequent decision to halt the march due to the protest’s “escalating violence.”
This is the reasoning behind the June 17 ruling by the Milan Court, which sentenced the defendants to prison terms ranging from 1 year and 6 months to 4 years and 7 months. Only one was acquitted.
Prosecutors Leonardo Lesti and Francesca Crupi had sought sentences from 6 months to 6 years, citing tactics of “urban guerrilla warfare,” including vandalism of banks and shops, destruction of two Enjoy cars, throwing of firecrackers and smoke bombs, and use of flares to conceal identities.
The court found “beyond reasonable doubt” that the 10 anarchists, aged between 28 and 38, committed several offenses, including aggravated resistance to public officials, wearing disguises to avoid identification, illegal use of pyrotechnics, private property damage, and unlawful possession of weapons.
Even the three anarchists who did not directly commit violent acts were convicted of “moral complicity,” as their presence and passive support “reinforced” the aggressive actions and undermined the “legitimate actions” of police forces.