American student, 19, 'drugged and gang-raped' during party on beach in Italy as police investigate two 20-year-olds
An American student was allegedly given 'date rape drugs' before she was gang-raped on a beach in Italy.
The 19-year-old US citizen claims the attack occurred during a party in the beach resort of Punta Marina - close to the city of Ravenna in northern Italy - on the night of August 25. It is understood that the investigation is now focused on two 20-year-olds.
The Italian authorities are attempting to ascertain whether a date rape drug was used on the woman. It was previously reported that CCTV footage from clubs in the beach resort will be examined for evidence.
Corriera Della Sera, an Italian news site, reported that the young woman who was in Italy as part of a cultural exchange first confided in the mother of her host family before calling her own family in America. She then visited a nearby hospital where she was examined before immediately returning to the US.
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The young woman is protected by the lawyer Angelo Stirone. The investigations of are coordinated by the prosecutor Lucrezia Ciriello. The two suspects are defended by lawyers Giovanni Scudellari and Maria Teresa Rizzo
It comes just months after two American students were raped after they were split up by opportunistic attackers, aged 18 and 19, as they were returning to their hotel in Sicily. The suspects, who have been described as locals, are now in police custody.
The horror unfolded on the night of July 3. The victims were coming back from spending the evening in the Ortigia-section of the town and were in the marina-area when they were approached.
The attackers were on a scooter. According to reports in Sicily, the victims were trying to use a cigarette vending machine but were unable because Italian machines require the purchaser to have a national ID in order to verify the age.