Vatican Court of Appeal convicts priest for corruption of minor

By Vatican News

The Court of Appeal of the Vatican City State, presided over by Archbishop Alejandro Arellano Cedillo, has sentenced a 31-year-old Italian priest from Como to two years and six months of imprisonment. 

The sentence also included a 1,000 euro fine for the crime of corruption of a minor he committed when he was a student at the Saint Pius Preseminary from 9 August 2008 to 19 March 2009.

Fr. Gabriele Martinelli had been charged with the crime following a complaint presented by another former seminarian, named L.G..

In a first-degree verdict, the young priest had been declared not punishable for the facts committed until 2 August 2008, as at the time he was under 16 , and for the charges of rape and acts of lust against the plaintiff, then seven months younger, due to a lack of evidence.

The appeal against the sentence was presented by the Vatican Promoter of Justice Roberto Zannotti and by the civil party, the lawyer Laura Sgrò.

At first instance, on 6 October 2021, after almost a year of trial, Fr. Martinelli had been acquitted of all charges by the Vatican Tribunal due to insufficient evidence.

Fr. Enrico Radice, 73, the former rector of the Preseminary, which is located in the Vatican, had been accused of aiding and abetting and was acquitted for lack of evidence.

Both priests are incardinated in the Diocese of Como, which manages the institute through the Opera Don Folci.