Wow. Good for her.

For all the "Not All Men" lurkers:

The spurned and enraged Melodia, together with more than a dozen compatriots, stormed into the Viola family farmhouse early on the morning after Christmas, badly beating Franca’s mother, and dragging the young woman away, along with her 8-year-old brother, who refused to let go of her leg.

MORE than a DOZEN. It's not uncommon at all for violent men to work in packs and rely on the aid of other men to either enable them, cover for them, or even actively participate. They even design legislation to help themselves out, which is why it wasn't until the late 20th century that a woman could even contest this bullshit.

For the prison abolitionists that lurk here too:

In May 1967, Melodia was found guilty and sentenced to 11 years in prison; seven of his accomplices received four-year sentences. Melodia was released from prison in 1976, and banished from Sicily for his Mob ties. He was murdered in Modena two years later.

Guess what bullshit his accomplices never pulled again? Guess where parents suddenly reigned in their thuggish sons to avoid prison and later banishment? These guys were willing to beat an 8 year old little boy. What "hug-it-out" strategy do you think would work better than immediate, prolonged physical containment of these Neanderthals?

“when she was just 15, she became engaged to a local boy eight years her senior”

lol, “local boy”. That was a grownass loser.

Wow this law was only repealed in 81…

Her bravery gave me goosebumps. The real shame is that she had to stand up to a law so vile and cruel after going through a terrible ordeal.