«It all started with the insult that Tullio received while he was at the checkout in a supermarket. A man said to the cashier: "I'm changing lines because I don't want to be near that faggot...". From there the situation would have degenerated.

This is the story of Marcello Arienti, partner of Tullio Cattaneo, a 72-year-old sculptor from Brescia who was attacked in Carbonia in recent days and hospitalized at Brotzu in Cagliari. An episode which according to his story was born precisely from a homophobic insult.

After being provoked, Arienti explained to the Giornale di Brescia, «Tullio, annoyed, asked for an explanation. A verbal argument arose which once outside seemed over. And instead Tullio and the gentleman met again, they said something to each other until the man left in the car. A friend appeared in his place and continued the discussion. I got in the way to calm things down and was punched in the face. When I got up I saw that Tullio was on the ground. With his eyes open, but he didn't speak."

After the alarm, Cattaneo was taken to hospital in Cagliari. After remaining in intensive care he was transferred to the ward, but could undergo surgery.

«It was an attack born from that homophobic insult», reiterates Arienti. Adding: «It's true that it wasn't the same person who hit us, but a friend. Tullio was annoyed by that phrase he had heard, then everything degenerated into violence."

The police are investigating the matter.

(Unioneonline)

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