Italy — Ekhbary News Agency
ROME — Italy's ruling coalition has formally called for a presidential pardon for Mario Roggero, a 72-year-old jeweller recently sentenced to a substantial prison term after killing two robbers. The political move follows Italy's supreme court upholding a 14-year, nine-month sentence against Roggero, who shot dead two men and wounded a third during a 2021 robbery at his Grinzane Cavour shop in northern Italy.
Supreme Court Rejects Self-Defence Claim
The supreme court’s decision on Wednesday rejected an appeal, affirming that Roggero had exceeded the boundaries of legitimate self-defence. Video footage showed the jeweller chasing the assailants outside his store after the initial robbery, a key factor in the court's ruling that the immediate threat had passed. Roggero's wife and daughter were present when the robbers, armed with a toy gun and a knife, entered the premises.
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Political Pressure and Public Divide
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's coalition, which includes the far-right League party, has strongly opposed the conviction. League leader Matteo Salvini stated, "After a lifetime of work, for what it's worth, I don't think it's fair to spend years in prison at 72 after being assaulted and robbed." The ruling parties announced they would gather signatures for a pardon request, which the justice ministry would then review before forwarding to President Sergio Mattarella. This case has sharply divided public opinion across Italy, with many believing Roggero acted beyond necessary defence, while thousands support his claims of innocence and have contributed to his legal defence funds. Roggero, who maintains his innocence, surrendered at a Fossano jail on Thursday, posting a video urging continued advocacy for a justice system responsive to "increasingly rampant crime."
