This story has obviously made a number of headlines over here in the last 24 hours and today it has been reported that the head of the Italian department of risk assessment has resigned in disgust.
Whilst it may be somewhat pedantic I should like to point out that the people were convicted of providing a "too optimistic" forecast which the authorities claim led to many people returning to their houses after spending many days sleeping al fresco following weeks of unusually frequent minor tremors (this area is well used to small earthquakes). The prosecution acknowledges that current science cannot predict earthquakes within the timescales required to give people a few days notice (of a large earthquake).
I for one am appalled by this prosecution and hope that the international outcry will shame the Italian authorities.
Not sure this is "Just another example of how screwed up Europe is". After all Italy is a small country in the Continent of Europe that has a legal system that is not held in high esteem in much of the Western world.
I think too this sentence is really crazy but your story about "italy and low esteem in the western World" is a total lack of class and a total absurdity.
First of all, I remember you that your legal system comes from Latins and Greeks, the first ones to speak about "legal system" (and yes, this kind of culture had his roots just in Italy not in UK) so I would not be so jaunty with your statements. Remember that.
This sentence comes from a crazy judge and the italian legal systema doesn't give a damn with that. Moreover no one is perfect.
That said every one, every state such as Italy, England, Germany and every one else has his faults and mistakes, it's not sign of democracy talking about a state as Italy like this.
To conclude, I remember you that in Italy, there're 3 degrees of judgment, and this is only the first one, so this crazy sentnece could change in the next months, so before condamn a state, I suggest you to keep you informed about what you're talking about. Thank you.