Italian sues runaway bride for 500,000 euros

ROME: An Italian groom left hanging at the altar after his runaway bride changed her mind at the last minute because she was in love with another man is now suing her for 500,000 euros (743,000 dollars).

The 32-year-old said he had suffered emotional and material damages after booking a villa for the wedding outside Rome, reserving a honeymoon on a Pacific island and refurbishing an apartment to his fiancee's tastes.

Wednesday's report by Italy's ANSA news agency said the man, referred to only by his first name, Riccardo, was already in the church when his fiancee's brother told him she would not be coming and the priest cancelled the service.

The report said that Riccardo had hired lawyers and filed a lawsuit, which emphasised that he and his family had borne all the costs for the wedding.(AFP)