28 March 2012
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Italy: G8-Genoa policemen's trial suspended as planted molotov cocktails disappear
One of the most significant incidents during the three-days of police violence against protestors that marked the G8 summit in Genoa on 19-21 July 2001, saw the beating and arrest of 93 activists who were sleeping in the Diaz school, against whom allegations of criminal association aimed at destruction and committing violent acts intent were made.
These were partly based on the fabrication of evidence, particularly the planting of two molotov cocktails in the school after the police raid had started. The molotov cocktails, which a police officer had confessed to planting in the school on orders from Pietro Troiani, the deputy police chief in Genoa, were used to charge the occupants with possession of explosives and to justify the raid (see Statewatch, vol. 13 no. 5, August-October 2003).
On 17 January 2007, it surfaced during a hearing in the trial
of 29 police officers facing charges in relation to the raid
including violence and the fabrication of evidence, that the
molotov cocktails have disappeared. While prosecutors and lawyers
acting on behalf of the victims of the raid claim that this is
not overly significant because all the necessary tests on the
bottles have been run and there is extensive documented evidence
of them, including photographs "taken from all angles",
lawyers defending the officers argue that "photographs can
never substitute the material evidence of a crime, which must
be physically recognised".
Repubblica, 18.1.2007; il manifesto, 19.1.2007.
Background - Statewatch coverage:
Genoa Justice
campaign: Site
Report by Annelie Buntenbach and Hans-Christian Ströbele,
Members of the German Bundestag, on their trip to Genoa on 25
and 26 July 2001: Report
(Updated
17.8.01)
Genoa:
20 of the PublixTheatreCaravan detainees freed & Germany
to challenge Italian "expulsion orders"? Detainees
freed
Demand for the immediate
release of members of the PublixTheatreCaravan. Protest against
miscarriage of justice and for freedom of expression, 12.8.01:
Appeal
Statements by two British people
arrested: Statements
Collection of reports on Genoa from
urban75: Reports
Report from La Repubblica
on police out of control, carried by Global Resistance: Report
Guardian report
says (27.7.01) 220 people still being held: Report
2,093 people refused
entry to Italy to attend Genoa protests: Entry
denied
UK Genoa protestors released:
Report
and statement (Guardian) Statement
Belated call by UK government for
inquiry into police violence: Report
(Evening Standard)
Fair Trials Abroad press statement on Genoa arrests: Genoa
arrests
Independent Media Center reports
on police raids:
Report
(1)
Independent Media Center (IMC) on
police raids: Report
(2) (pdf file)
Amnesty International call for inquiry into policing: Amnesty
Genoa, midnight Saturday 21 July:
Police raid
on independent media centre and school - many injured (22.7.01): Report
Events leading up
to the Genoa protests: raids on social centres and left groups
and clashes at the Italian borders: Reports
from the ground
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