US students found guilty of killing Italian policeman

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 central Rome in 2019.

Californian students Finnegan Lee Elder and Gabriel Christian Natale-Hjorth were both given life sentences.

Elder had admitted to stabbing Rega 11 times but maintained that he acted in self-defence, believing the police officer was a criminal.

Natale-Hjorth, 20, was convicted of helping him to conceal the weapon. Under Italian law, accomplices can also be charged with murder.

Read more:

• Mahama’s name pops up as #FixTheCountry Demo Sponsor
• TUCEE Institute Holds Maiden Graduation On Cyber Counselling
• 7 gorgeous workwear looks that’ll get you compliments at work

The two men had argued that Rega and his police partner, who were not wearing uniforms, failed to identify themselves – although the other officer denied this.

Last month prosecutor Maria Sabina Calabretta argued that the pair should be given life sentences, which she described as “a just penalty”.

Elder and Natale-Hjorth were teenagers at the time of the incident.

Rega’s murder received huge amounts of attention in Italy.

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 was married just 43 days earlier.

But there have also been questions about how the case has been handled.

—

BBC.com