The sentence against three people from Oziere, accused of robbery aggravated by ethnic and racial hatred, was reduced to 4 years and 20 days yesterday in the Court of Appeal in Sassari.
The story dates back to 5 October 2009 in Alà dei Sardi when, on the occasion of the feast of San Francesco, at around 2.30 in the morning two Moroccan street vendors were attacked by several people right in front of the church of San Francesco. They hit the North Africans with punches, kicks and a bottle, threatening them with a gun and a knife, causing significant facial injuries to one of the non-EU citizens. They then stole some goods, including sixty tents, as well as 1500 euros, and tried to take the van without success. "Fucking Moroccans... get out of Italy or we'll kill you", this is one of the phrases uttered along with others of even worse content.
Six people were accused for the episode, two of whom were sentenced to 4 years and 6 months, the other two acquitted. There remained the three, just 19 years old at the time, defended by the lawyers Sabina Useli and Mariano Mameli, sentenced in first instance to 4 years and 8 months. The sentence was adjusted downwards because the crimes of injury and private violence became statute-barred. The panel chaired by Marina Capitta pronounced the sentence.