Three men accused of raping and
killing 16-year-old Desiree Mariottini in Rome this month lied
to her on a fatal mixture of drugs they gave her, claiming it
was methadone rather than substances including tranquillizers to
gang rape her, a preliminary investigations judge (GIP) has
said, ruling that the suspects must remain in jail.
The men, two Senegalese and a Nigerian, are accused of
voluntary homicide, group sexual violence and distributing
narcotics.
Investigators, who are seeking a fourth man for the rape and
murder, suspect that three or four additional people could have
been present during or after the rape and did not call for help
although the teen was extremely sick, according to investigative
sources.
Desiree did not return home on the night of October 17 after
saying she had missed the last bus home from Rome to Cisterna di
Latina.
Her body was found on October 19 in the San Lorenzo
district, known for its lively street scene.
The teen was raped and killed in an occupied building in San
Lorenzo's Via dei Lucani, known as a "drugs supermarket" where
pushers sell a wide range of drugs, investigators said.
Interior Minister Matteo Salvini has said abandoned buildings
in the area will be cleared.
"We will progressively clear all occupied buildings", Salvini
told private broadcaster La7 on Sunday, when asked how the
government would respond to the murder.
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