Italy shortens trial wait

Press, 28 August 1984, Page 20

Italy shortens trial wait

NZPA-AFP Rome Suspected terrorists, murderers, and swindlers are about to be freed from jail under a new law reducing the time an Italian can be detained while awaiting trial. The law was brought in as a humanitarian gesture, as Italian justice has for decades been notoriously slow before an accused is brought to court, where he might then be found not guilty, after spending up to 10 years, eight months in prison awaiting trial. Under the new law, an accused person cannot be held longer than six years awaiting trial. Of -46,000 prison inmates in Italy in

June, 32,200 were untried. At Naples’ Poggioreale !>rison where the camorra local Mafia) suspects are held, only 188 out of 2541 prisoners have so far gone on trial. But certain alleged terrorists such as Giuliano Naria, in prison since 1978 on charges of belonging to the Red Brigades, will now be allowed to go home until their trial. The liberal daily newspaper, “La Stampa,” supporting the law, said, “It wipes out the shame of Italy being condemned by the European Court of Justice for the length of time it takes for a person to be tried.”