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Commentary on Judgment No. 35630 of 2023: Abnormalities in the Requalification of the Fact

Judgment No. 35630 of May 16, 2023, by the Court of Cassation offers important insights into the theme of requalification of criminal facts and procedural abnormalities. In this case, the Court found that the decision of a judge to acquit a defendant while simultaneously transmitting the records to the public prosecutor for a new qualification of the fact was not only inadequate but even abnormal.

The Context of the Judgment

The case in question originated from a judgment of the Padua Court, which acquitted the defendant, SM, of the crime attributed to him. However, it also ordered the return of the records to the public prosecutor for possible requalification of the fact. The Court of Cassation annulled this decision without referral, emphasizing that it involved an undue regression to the beginning of the investigations, violating the principle of non bis in idem, that is, the prohibition of double prosecution for the same fact.

Acquittal judgment - Concurrent transmission of records to the public prosecutor for action on the same fact differently qualified - Abnormality - Existence - Reasons. It is abnormal, as it causes an undue regression of the process to the investigation phase, the judgment by which the judge, instead of requalifying the contested fact as permitted by Article 521, paragraph 1, of the Code of Criminal Procedure, acquits the defendant of the crime attributed to him and simultaneously orders the return of the records to the public prosecutor for the possible exercise of criminal action regarding the same fact differently qualified, considering also that the new charge that may be formulated would conflict with the acquittal judgment, which has become final, in violation of the prohibition of double prosecution for the same fact.

The Legal Implications of the Judgment

This decision by the Court of Cassation highlights some fundamental aspects of Italian criminal procedural law and offers insights into the interpretation of the rules. In particular, Article 521, paragraph 1, of the Code of Criminal Procedure establishes that the judge can requalify the contested fact but cannot acquit the defendant while simultaneously returning the records to the public prosecutor for a new charge. The reasons underlying this abnormality lie in the necessity to ensure the stability of judicial decisions and the respect for the rights of the defendant.

Conclusions

In conclusion, Judgment No. 35630 of 2023 by the Court of Cassation represents an important clarification on the limits of the requalification of criminal facts and on the prohibition of double prosecution. It reaffirms the principle that a final acquittal must be respected and cannot be challenged by new charges for the same fact. This decision contributes to strengthening the certainty of law and the protection of defendants' rights, fundamental elements for a fair and equitable legal system.