RIMINI -- Jorge Edson Tavares, the 29-year-old from Cape Verde accused of scarring his ex-girlfriend and former Miss Italy finalist 28-year-old Gessica Notaro with acid Tuesday evening, insisted his innocence under questioning and claimed he has an alibi, police sources say Thursday.

 Tavares was taken into custody early Wednesday for police questioning and subsequently arrested on charges of grievous bodily harm.

 The accused claimed that he spent the night between Tuesday and Wednesday (when the attack took place) with a woman in the Italian town of Cattolica.

 Notaro, who works at the Rimini dolphin park and is a previous Miss Romagna winner and Miss Italy finalist, is currently in a very serious condition in the Cesena Bufalini hospital and could face losing her eyesight.

 In August, Tavares had been investigated on allegations of other ill-treatment and was given a warning by the police commissioner.

 sw