Current:Home > ContactItalian appeals court reduces sentences for 2 Americans convicted of killing policeman -Golden Horizon Investments
Italian appeals court reduces sentences for 2 Americans convicted of killing policeman
View
Date:2025-04-11 18:33:56
An Italian appeals court on Wednesday upheld the convictions of two American men in the slaying of an Italian plainclothes police officer during a botched sting operation but reduced their sentences. The new trial was ordered after Italy's highest court threw out their original convictions.
The court convicted Finnegan Lee Elder and sentenced him to 15 years and 2 months in prison and gave a sentence of 11 years to Gabriele Natale-Hjorth.
They were found guilty in the July 2019 slaying of Carabinieri Vice Brigadier Mario Cerciello Rega. Prosecutors had asked that Elder be sentenced to 23 years and nine months and 23 years for Natale-Hjorth.
Teenagers at the time of the slaying, the former schoolmates from the San Francisco Bay area had met up in Rome to spend a few days vacationing. The fatal confrontation took place after they arranged to meet a small-time drug dealer, who turned out to have been a police informant, to recover money lost in a bad deal. Instead, they were confronted by the officers.
Cerciello Riga was stabbed 11 times with a knife brought from a hotel room.
Italy's highest Cassation Court ordered a new trial last year, saying it hadn't been proven beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendants, with limited Italian language skills, had understood that they were dealing with Italian police officers when they went to meet an alleged drug dealer in Rome.
The defense had argued that the defendants didn't know they were facing law enforcement when the attack happened.
The highest court threw out Elder's conviction and 24-year sentence and asked the appeals court to consider the charge of resisting an officer. For Natale-Hjorth, the appeals court was ordered to look at the charge of complicity to commit murder.
The killing of the officer in the storied Carabinieri paramilitary police corps shocked Italy. Cerciello Rega, 35, was mourned as a national hero.
Prosecutors alleged Elder stabbed Cerciello Rega with a knife that he brought with him on his trip to Europe and that Natale-Hjorth helped him hide the knife in their hotel room. Under Italian law, an accomplice in an alleged murder can also be charged with murder without carrying out the slaying.
Prosecutors contend the young Americans concocted a plot involving a stolen bag and cellphone after their failed attempt to buy cocaine with $96 in Rome's Trastevere nightlife district. Natale-Hjorth and Elder testified they had paid for the cocaine but didn't receive it.
This story has been updated to correct Finnegan Lee Elder's name.
- In:
- Italy
- San Francisco
veryGood! (66)
Related
- What to know about Tuesday’s US House primaries to replace Matt Gaetz and Mike Waltz
- Russian doctors call for release of imprisoned artist who protested Ukraine war
- Maine and Massachusetts are the last states to keep bans on Sunday hunting. That might soon change
- Nordstrom's Black Friday Deals: Save Up To 70% On Clothes, Accessories, Decor & More
- South Korea's acting president moves to reassure allies, calm markets after Yoon impeachment
- SpaceX is attempting to launch its giant Starship rocket — again. Here's what to know
- Romania clinches Euro 2024 spot with 2-1 victory over Israel
- Armenia and Azerbaijan speak different diplomatic languages, Armenia’s leader says
- As Trump Enters Office, a Ripe Oil and Gas Target Appears: An Alabama National Forest
- Jordan’s foreign minister offers blistering criticism of Israel as its war on Hamas rages on
Ranking
- IRS recovers $4.7 billion in back taxes and braces for cuts with Trump and GOP in power
- Moldova’s first dog nips Austrian president on the hand during official visit
- $1.35 billion Mega Millions winner sues mother of his child for disclosing jackpot win
- NCAA president says he feels bad for James Madison football players, but rules are rules
- The Super Bowl could end in a 'three
- Nordstrom's Black Friday Deals: Save Up To 70% On Clothes, Accessories, Decor & More
- 'What is this woman smoking?': How F1 turned a pipe dream into the Las Vegas Grand Prix
- Argentine presidential candidate Milei goes to the opera — and meets both cheers and jeers
Recommendation
Kylie Jenner Shows Off Sweet Notes From Nieces Dream Kardashian & Chicago West
4 killed in South Carolina when vehicle crashes into tree known as ‘The Widowmaker’
Arkansas man used losing $20 scratch-off ticket to win $500,000 in play-it-again game
Want to rent a single-family home? Here's where it's most affordable.
See you latte: Starbucks plans to cut 30% of its menu
These Are The Best Holiday Decorations Under $25 Whatever Style You're After
'There's people that need water.' Taylor Swift pauses Eras show in Rio to help fans
Shedeur Sanders battered, knocked out of Colorado football game against Washington State