Italian army general Roberto Vannacci
was cleared Monday of defaming volleyball star Paolo Egonu in
his controversial book The World Upside Down.
Vannacci, 55, said in the runaway bestseller of Egonu, 25, who
has Nigerian parents: "even if Paola Egonu is Italian by
citizenship, it is clear that her somatic features do not
represent Italian-ness".
Shelving the defamation suit, a Lucca preliminary investigations
judge (GIP) said the suspended general's remark was "inopportune
but not denigratory".
Vannaci, recently elected with over half a million votes to the
European Parliament as an independent for the rightwing League
party, said he had never intended to gratuitously offend Egonu's
reputation.
After she sued him, the former paratroop commander said he
"esteemed Egonu as a sportswoman and Italian".
Vannacci's lawyer called the ruling "a victory for the freedom
of opinion".
Egonu's lawyer called the ruling "unacceptable" and said they
woud probably appeal.
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