The mentally challenged man who struck Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi in the face was acquitted of aggravated assault charges.
Judge Luisa Savoia sentenced Massimo Tartaglia, 42, to one year's probation and ordered that he
remain in the mental health facility where he currently is a patient while he serves his probation, the Italian news agency ANSA reported Tuesday. She also barred him from attending any public gatherings for a year.
The preliminary hearings judge acquitted Tartaglia because he was not mentally stable when he attacked Berlusconi with a spiked statuette in December.
Tartaglia's lawyers said they were satisfied with Savoia's decision because "the most important thing was for him to have treatment, it was the absolute priority."
The defendant's father said, "We are relieved by the judge's decision.
Massimo's actions were certainly not those of a sound person.
Daniele Capezzone, a spokesman for Berlusconi's People of Freedom party, said "last December
Tartaglia came close to killing Silvio Berlusconi. Today he is acquitted.
Something isn't right."
Berlusconi sustained a broken nose and two chipped teeth when Tartaglia threw a souvenir statue of the Milan Cathedral at him after a political rally in Milan.