Italian goldsmith sentenced to 14 years for killing two robbers

The Italian Supreme Court has upheld a 14-year, 9-month prison sentence for goldsmith Mario Roggero, 72, for the 2021 killing of two robbers during a heist at his shop. The court's decision definitively rejects the defense's appeal, confirming the Turin Court of Appeal's verdict.

Roggero had been convicted of murdering Giuseppe Mazzarino, 58, and Andrea Spinelli, 44, after they robbed his jewelry store in Gallo di Grinzane, in northern Italy. The incident occurred on April 28, 2021, when three men entered the shop armed with a replica pistol and a knife. After the robbery, as the men attempted to flee in a car, Roggero pursued them to the parking lot and opened fire with his legally owned pistol. A third assailant was injured but escaped.

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This man was simply in shock and couldn't manage the situation out of fear.

Judges at all court levels found that Roggero was no longer in immediate danger when he fired. The court's reasoning stated that the robbers had already left the store and their aggressive action was complete. Therefore, the use of lethal force was deemed not a case of legal self-defense but an excessive use of force beyond legal limits. Roggero was initially sentenced to 17 years, but the Court of Appeal reduced it to 14 years and 9 months, recognizing mitigating circumstances. The court also upheld compensation awarded to the victims' families.

Before his imprisonment, Roggero appealed to Italian President Sergio Mattarella for a presidential pardon. He cited previous pardons and expressed hope for consideration. The case has drawn public attention, with Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini publicly supporting Roggero, calling him an "honest man" and urging the president to grant a pardon. This sentiment highlights a division in public opinion regarding self-defense laws and the application of justice in such cases.

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honest man who does not deserve, as he said, to go to prison