Italian gets 20 yrs in jail for killing toddler

ROME, July 18 (Reuters) An Italian judge handed a 20-year sentence today to one of the men behind last year's murder of an epileptic toddler, who was snatched from his highchair at home and then killed with a shovel.

The murder of 18-month-old Tommaso Onofri horrified Italians who had waged a month-long campaign for the toddler's release -- complete with appeals from the Pope -- without knowing the boy was already dead.

Tommaso's kidnappers, who planned to demand a ransom, hit him in the face with a shovel to stop him crying shortly after the abduction, the force of the blow killing the toddler.

His body was found dumped near a river after one of the killers led police to the area.

Judge Rita Zaccariello handed one of the men behind the kidnapping, Salvatore Raimondi, the maximum, 20-year sentence requested by the prosecutors. Another suspect was acquitted.

The main suspect Mario Alessi, a construction worker who helped remodel the Onofri's house in northern Italy, goes on trial along with his partner, Antonella Conserva, on September 21 in the city of Parma.

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