TRIAL OF ITALIAN GIRL

Chronicle (Levin), 24 July 1946, Page 3

TRIAL OF ITALIAN GIRL

"INNOCENT VICTIM OF LOVE" I/ulia Ciriihq tlie "ltulian licroine" accusL'd oi kiJliug a liritisli Ariny ollieer, uas givcn Ihe niininium sonloncc of four years 28 days' imprisonment wlieu slie was fouiid guiity of manslaughler in Uoinc. The \ erdict was wildly cheerod by Ihe tightly-paeked eourtroom. Afler slie has served lier prisou lerm slie will be eonnnitted to a nieiital inslilution for three and a half years. tSentenee of nine years and four nionths' iinprisoiuuent had bcen deniauded by the prosecution. There were repealed cheers and ap [dause iu tlie eourtroom during the elosing arguiuent in the trial of this 84-year-ohl ItaJiau brunette for the sliooting of (,'aptain Bidney i. Lusli. Lidia sat stolidly as (he jiroseeulor declared: "A true flalian woniati wouhl have slapped the euptain in Ihe fayo," but later slie was tepeatedly in tears. fcJonio oi' those present wept witli her. Ijiisli had proiiiiscd to liiarrv her, aecording to the t.'ourt evidenee, but later slie learned tliat lie not only was alrcady married but had also descrled her for a younger llalian woman. There were cheers as a young lawyer I'rom Lidia's homo lown, Kugenio de Winioue, declared tliat slie should be set free, asserting tliat slie w as " un iniio ceut victini -of love. " Theu, turuiug to the judges, he pic uired Lidia as a symbol of many Llalian women, and called lor tlie defence of 4 • thcir honour, as w ell as respect for llalian inen, our famili.es, our roligion and our ci vilisalion. "