Italy, 70-year-old sentenced to life in prison for killing his wife with two bullets in the street

The Court of Serious Crimes in Chieti has sentenced 70-year-old Antonio Mancini to life in prison after finding him guilty of killing his wife, Cleria Mancini, in Lettomanoppello, in the province of Pescara.

The incident occurred about a year ago, when the woman was shot twice with a firearm in the middle of the street.

In addition to the maximum sentence, the court ordered Mancini to spend two months in daytime isolation. The prosecutor had sought a life sentence after presenting a reconstruction of the circumstances surrounding the murder in her closing argument.

A forensic psychiatric assessment requested by the defense and ordered by the court concluded that the 70-year-old was fully capable of understanding and controlling his actions at the time he committed the crime.

The ruling also provides for Mancini’s permanent disqualification from holding public office, his placement under legal incapacitation and the removal of his parental rights.

The defendant, who is currently in prison, attended the hearing accompanied by his lawyer.

For the damages caused, the court ordered Mancini to compensate the civil parties. The final amount will be determined in separate proceedings, while provisional compensation totaling 250,000 euros has been set.

The court also decided to send the case files to the prosecutor’s office, which will assess the next steps regarding the charges of unlawful appropriation of an item and possession of a firearm. The full reasoning behind the ruling is expected to be filed within 90 days.