The unpunished police beating of a 62-year-old man during protests at the Genoa G8 summit in Italy in July 2001 amounted to torture, Europe's top human rights court has said.

The summit was marked by violent confrontations between black-clad protesters and police, with entire neighbourhoods devastated.

On the night of July 21-22, both Arnaldo Cestaro and a group of protesters were in a school when police stormed the building.

The court said Mr Cestaro raised his arms in surrender but was beaten and kicked by the officers, suffering fractures and other injuries.

The Strasbourg-based European Court of Human Rights ruled that Mr Cestaro's treatment amounted to torture, and criticised the lack of accountability for those responsible for the violence.

Mr Cestaro was awarded €45,000 and the court said Italy must change its laws.

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