Christian Iacono freed from prison

Christian Iacono, 76, was set free by the court of appeal after the victim remarkably retracted his testimony in May.

Gabriel Iacono, 20, who had accused his grandfather of rape and sexual assault for 11 years told Nice Matin last month that he believed he was mistaken about the identity of his attacker but insisted that he had been raped.

Lawyers for the former mayor of Vence launched an appeal following the revelations in a bid to clear his name.

“I am very tired and full of emotion,” Iacono told reporters outside the prison in Grasse. “Now I believe that we are on the road to the truth,” he added.

It will now be up to the cour d’assises (equivalent of the British crown court) to decide if it will proceed with a third trial. However the likelihood of the trial taking place hangs in the balance as there is no longer a victim for Iacono’s alleged crime.

Tom Donnelly