A Milan court on Wednesday released its explanation of its July decision to acquit four police officers of manslaughter in the case of a labourer who died during arrest. Michele Ferrulli, 51, died of a heart attack in 2011 while police were handcuffing him on the ground.
"No gratuitous violence" was inflicted, and any blows officers landed were necessary to "overcome resistance", the court wrote.
The officers were called after reports that Ferrulli and two friends were being drunk and disorderly on the street.
Cops were trying to contain and not harm Ferrulli, and neither did they hit him with blunt objects as alleged, the court argued.
Ferrulli, who suffered from hypertension, had drunk a lot and hurled threats and insults at the police, refused to provide ID, and tried to attack one of the officers, the court said.
His heart attack was likely brought on by "an emotional storm" rather than by any action by the police, the judges wrote.
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