A young woman on trial in an
acid attack that may leave an ex-boyfriend partially blind had
also planned to castrate another ex last May, prosecutors said
Friday.
Martina Levato, a 22-year-old student at Milan's private
Bocconi university, and property broker Alexander Boettcher, 30,
are on trial for a December 28 attack in which acid was thrown
on the face and body of 22-year-old Pietro Barbini.
Judicial sources earlier said the pair, also on trial on
charges of robbery and holding stolen goods, were being
investigated for other similar attacks.
Friday, prosecutors said they believe Levato intended in
May to castrate a man after a relationship between them ended.
In that case, prosecutors alleged she arranged a meeting
with another young Bocconi student with whom she had had a
previous summer romance.
While sitting in her vehicle near the university, Levato
allegedly insisted they move into the back seat of the car for
sex, and told him to close his eyes because she had a surprise
for him.
She then allegedly pulled a knife hidden earlier in the
two-door car from which the victim could not escape, and stabbed
at his crotch, resulting in cuts to his hands as the young man
defended himself.
Levato has been accused of slander in that case because she
reportedly told people he had tried to attack her.
She and Boettcher are currently on trial for grievous
bodily harm with cruelty, with premeditation as an aggravating
circumstance in connection with the acid attack against Levato's
former boyfriend Barbini.
He is at risk of losing the use of his right eye as a
result of the attack, which left him with third-degree burns to
his face and body.
On Thursday sources said Levato and Boettcher were also
being probed for attempting to throw a "corrosive liquid" at a
young man identified only as G.C.
That attack reportedly failed.
Investigators are also exploring the possibility that
Levato and Boettcher might have attempted other similar attacks
against people who are "in the course of being identified" and
have searched the couple's homes and cars.
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