Further details of the shocking gang rape case that saw Genoa midfielder Manolo Portanova sentenced to six years in prison have been made public, three months after he was convicted for his part in the attack.
As reported by La Gazzetta dello Sport, the former Juventus player was given the prison sentence after being convicted of raping a 21-year-old female student in Siena in May 2021, whilst his uncle, Alessio Langella, was also hit with the same sentence. The pair were joined by another man, 25-year-old Alessandro Cappiello, and an unnamed 17-year-old.
In addition to the prison sentence, Portanova and Langella have been ordered to pay €120,000 to the victim’s family. Meanwhile, they had both opted for a fast-tracked trial, which saw their sentences reduced, but the two men maintain that this is not an admission of guilt and are appealing their convictions.
Details of attack laid bare
In a release of the findings of judge Ilaria Cornetti from the sentencing in Siena on December 6, 2022, and as published by La Gazzetta dello Sport, the details of the case paint a horrific picture of an attack by the four men on the student that “lasted between 40 minutes and one hour”.
The woman is reported to have been invited back to an apartment in the centre of Siena, and was physically assaulted and slapped across the face, before being raped multiple times. The report showed that the victim had “suffered internal organ injuries, as well as psychological trauma”.
Whilst it has been reported that she had initially consented to sexual intercourse with Portanova, she had not given consent to the other three aggressors or to group sex, and had “repeatedly and unequivocally” made clear her objection from the start, and throughout the ordeal.
Highlighting the viciousness of the attack, the victim attempted to break free from Portanova by hitting him and calling for help, but was eventually forced to endure the assault “passively and like a robot,” the findings added.
Portanova joined Genoa from Juventus in 2021 and whilst the Grifone initially did not suspend him following his conviction, he has not represented the club since and his last appearance came in a 1-0 defeat to Cittadella on December 4, 2022.
It has already been made known that Portanova will appeal the sentence.
