Mario Batali, celebrity chef and chef, was acquitted Tuesday of indecent assault charges and battery in connection to allegations that he groped a woman at a Boston bar last year.
Batali had waived his right to a jury trial, leading to a two-day bench trial that culminated with Judge James Stanton’s not guilty verdict.
Stanton said that Batali’s accuser, Natali Tene, had “credibility problems highlighted in her sworn testimony,”It should be noted, however, that Batali “did not cover himself in glory on the night in question.”
“His conduct, his appearance and his demeanor were not befitting of a public person of his stature at that time,” Stanton continued.
Batali looked at his lawyer at the defense table and smacked her cheek. Batali left the courtroom feeling relieved.
Batali was not present on Tuesday as the assistant district attorney played a slideshow of 10 selfies Tene and Batali took the night of the incident.
“Mario Batali is grabbing my face, kissing me on the side of the face. His other hand that can’t be seen is touching my body in sensitive areas,”Tene said.
