{"id":18773,"date":"2021-05-06T03:26:02","date_gmt":"2021-05-06T07:26:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/?p=18773"},"modified":"2021-05-06T03:32:33","modified_gmt":"2021-05-06T07:32:33","slug":"us-students-found-guilty-of-killing-italian-policeman","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/2021\/05\/06\/us-students-found-guilty-of-killing-italian-policeman\/","title":{"rendered":"US students found guilty of killing Italian policeman"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-3z08n3-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p><b class=\"ssrcss-14iz86j-BoldText e5tfeyi0\">Two US students have been found guilty of murdering a police officer in Italy following a year-long trial.<\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-3z08n3-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>Mario Cerciello Rega, 35, was stabbed to death as he investigated a drug deal gone wrong in central Rome in 2019.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-3z08n3-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>Californian students Finnegan Lee Elder and Gabriel Christian Natale-Hjorth were both given life sentences.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-3z08n3-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>Elder had admitted to stabbing Rega 11 times but maintained that he acted in self-defence, believing the police officer was a criminal.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-3z08n3-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>Natale-Hjorth, 20, was convicted of helping him to conceal the weapon. Under Italian law, accomplices can also be charged with murder.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83\" data-component=\"unordered-list-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-3z08n3-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-1pzprxn-BulletListContainer e5tfeyi3\">\n<ul role=\"list\">\n<li><a class=\"ssrcss-hiczm3-InlineLink e1no5rhv0\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/world-europe-49133815\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Huge manhunt for killers of Italian policeman<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"ssrcss-hiczm3-InlineLink e1no5rhv0\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/world-europe-51641936\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">US students in Italian court over police murder<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-3z08n3-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>The two men had argued that Rega and his police partner, who were not wearing uniforms, failed to identify themselves &#8211; although the other officer denied this.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"piano-inline1\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-3z08n3-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>Last month prosecutor Maria Sabina Calabretta argued that the pair should be given life sentences, which she described as &#8220;a just penalty&#8221;.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-3z08n3-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>Elder and Natale-Hjorth were teenagers at the time of the incident.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-18mjolk-ComponentWrapper e1xue1i80\" data-component=\"image-block\">\n<figure class=\"ssrcss-2y05cd-StyledFigure e34k3c20\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-kwaqyc-StyledFigureContainer e34k3c22\"><span class=\"ssrcss-1hq4gmv-Placeholder e16icw910\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"ssrcss-evoj7m-Image ee0ct7c0\" src=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/976\/cpsprodpb\/7B4F\/production\/_118376513_tv065979345.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/240\/cpsprodpb\/7B4F\/production\/_118376513_tv065979345.jpg 240w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/320\/cpsprodpb\/7B4F\/production\/_118376513_tv065979345.jpg 320w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/7B4F\/production\/_118376513_tv065979345.jpg 480w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/624\/cpsprodpb\/7B4F\/production\/_118376513_tv065979345.jpg 624w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/800\/cpsprodpb\/7B4F\/production\/_118376513_tv065979345.jpg 800w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/976\/cpsprodpb\/7B4F\/production\/_118376513_tv065979345.jpg 976w\" alt=\"The police officer's widow holds a photo of her late husband in court\" width=\"976\" height=\"549\" \/><\/span><\/div><figcaption class=\"ssrcss-1rnnz6t-StyledFigureCaption e34k3c21\">At the time of his death, Rega had only just returned to duty from his honeymoon (Image: Reuters)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-3z08n3-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Rega&#8217;s murder received huge amounts of attention in Italy.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-3z08n3-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>At the time of his death, the officer had only just returned to duty from his honeymoon. Large crowds turned out for his funeral at the same church where he was married just 43 days earlier.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-3z08n3-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>But there have also been questions about how the case has been handled.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-mysbf6-ComponentWrapper-CrossheadComponentWrapper e1xue1i84\" data-component=\"crosshead-block\">\n<h2 class=\"ssrcss-qozapo-StyledHeading e1fj1fc10\">How did Rega die?<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-3z08n3-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>Elder and Natale-Hjort were on holiday in Rome when they tried to buy cocaine in the Trastevere area, near Vatican City, in July 2019.<\/p>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-3z08n3-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>Investigators said a man named Sergio Brugiatelli helped the pair to find a dealer. But the students were allegedly sold crushed aspirin instead of drugs.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-3z08n3-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>Both men then stole Mr Brugiatelli&#8217;s rucksack, and demanded their money back and a gram of cocaine in exchange.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-3z08n3-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>At this point, Mr Brugiatelli rang the police. Undercover officers Rega and his partner, Andrea Varriale, arrived soon after.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-3z08n3-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>During the ensuing brawl Rega was stabbed 11 times with an 18cm (7 inch) blade, which Elder brought with him from the US. Police said they later found the weapon hidden behind a false panel in the students&#8217; hotel room.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-3z08n3-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>Speaking to the court in March, Elder said he stabbed Rega because he feared he was being attacked by a &#8220;thug&#8221;.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-3z08n3-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>&#8220;As soon as I felt his hands squeezing my neck, I instinctively took my knife and hit him a few times in an effort to get him off me,&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"piano-inline3\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-mysbf6-ComponentWrapper-CrossheadComponentWrapper e1xue1i84\" data-component=\"crosshead-block\">\n<h2 class=\"ssrcss-qozapo-StyledHeading e1fj1fc10\">How has the case been handled?<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-3z08n3-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>There have been a number of questions raised about the case in both Italian and US media.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-3z08n3-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p><a class=\"ssrcss-hiczm3-InlineLink e1no5rhv0\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/world-europe-49147435\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">A leaked photo showing Natale-Hjorth blindfolded and restrained<\/a>\u00a0at a police station appeared in the press shortly after their arrest. Rega&#8217;s partner, Mr Varriale, later said he had filmed Natale-Hjorth&#8217;s interrogation on his phone, which is where the photo came from.<\/p>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-3z08n3-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>The police officer said he and Rega identified themselves on the night. But the US students say they saw no evidence they were police.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-3z08n3-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>And Mr Varriale also faced a &#8220;dereliction of duty&#8221; charge for not carrying his weapon at the time. Neither he nor Rega were armed, which is against procedure.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-3z08n3-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>Defence lawyers for the US students also raised questions after talks between Elder and his lawyer appeared in the Italian media which suggested he had confessed. But the defence said the transcripts were badly translated and seemed to omit parts of their conversation.<\/p>\n<p>Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/world-europe-56996545\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">bbc.co.uk<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"mh-excerpt\">Two US students have been found guilty of murdering a police officer in Italy following a year-long trial. Mario Cerciello Rega, 35, was stabbed to death as he investigated a drug deal gone wrong in <a class=\"mh-excerpt-more\" href=\"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/2021\/05\/06\/us-students-found-guilty-of-killing-italian-policeman\/\" title=\"US students found guilty of killing Italian policeman\">[&#8230;]<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":18774,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pmpro_default_level":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[109,2,3,6],"tags":[1468,6439,6996,6442,7765],"class_list":{"0":"post-18773","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-headline","8":"category-news","9":"category-usa","10":"category-world","11":"tag-italy","12":"tag-mario-cerciello-rega","13":"tag-rome","14":"tag-trastevere","15":"tag-vatican-city","16":"pmpro-has-access"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18773","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18773"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18773\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18777,"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18773\/revisions\/18777"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18774"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18773"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18773"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18773"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}