On July 16, the Appellate Court rejected an appeal filed by a man convicted of rape, unlawful restraint for sexual abuse, assault, and threats of violence. The court upheld the original verdict issued by the Assize Court, confirming that the absence of genetic material or physical injuries does not automatically preclude the commission of the crimes.

The case stems from incidents that occurred in April 2020. The defendant had been sentenced to concurrent prison terms, including 10 years for rape, 3 years for unlawful restraint, 4 months for common assault, and 1 year for each of the threats of violence charges. During the appeal, the convict argued that the lower court’s conclusions were flawed, specifically citing the lack of DNA evidence and the absence of physical injuries observed during a forensic medical examination.

In its ruling, the Appellate Court dismissed these arguments, affirming that the Assize Court’s assessment of the evidence was sound and had proven the charges beyond a reasonable doubt. The decision marks the final judicial confirmation of the conviction for these specific criminal acts.