A 37-year-old foreign national was acquitted of charges stemming from a violent attack on an 80-year-old Italian bar owner in Perugia, after being declared incapable of understanding and intent.
As reported by Il Giornale, the assault occurred on the morning of June 5 and began when the elderly bartender asked the man to wait until the establishment opened. This request reportedly enraged the attacker, who claimed to be “Bin Laden” and began acting erratically.
In a fit of rage, he shattered the glass door of the bar using a chair from the outdoor seating area before proceeding to strike the bar owner multiple times with the chair, causing serious injuries.
The situation escalated further when the owner, along with his wife, tried to take cover inside the bar. Despite their precautions, the man managed to break in and continue the assault. The bar owner suffered multiple blows, ultimately falling to the ground. The intervention of the owner’s wife helped prevent further harm until police arrived at the scene.
The aftermath of the attack saw both the victim and the assailant requiring medical attention. The elderly bar owner was hospitalized, while the attacker was treated for various injuries, including fractures and cranial trauma.
The migrant attacker was immediately arrested and remained in custody until a psychiatric evaluation from a prior case of sexual assault was reviewed. This report deemed him “strongly paranoid” and prone to aggression when feeling threatened. It also concluded that he lacked the capacity to understand his actions or participate in legal proceedings.
During a court hearing earlier this week, the judge revoked the man’s imprisonment, citing his inability to “understand and will.” Instead, the court ordered his hospitalization in a psychiatric residential facility for two years.
However, logistical challenges have arisen, as there are reportedly no available facilities in the Umbria region. This uncertainty has left questions about where and when the individual will receive the mandated care.
