The story that saw the arrest, on Friday night, of a man and a woman, found in a farmhouse on the outskirts of Benevento with a veritable arsenal, ends with a twist .
The Preliminary Investigations Judge validated the arrest, but opted for less restrictive precautionary measures, raising concerns.
The dynamics of the arrest and the suspects' version of events
The couple, a 34-year-old man and a 31-year-old woman from Benevento, were caught by the Carabinieri in a farmhouse in the Epitaffio district. Inside, they found a bag containing two rifles, one sawed-off, and over 200 rounds of ammunition. Despite the evidence, the suspects, assisted by lawyer Michele Ciruolo, have provided a shocking version of events.
The woman claimed to have accidentally found the bag in a field and brought it to the farmhouse without knowing its contents. The couple justified their presence at the farmhouse by claiming they had only stopped there to take a child, who was in the woman's care, for a swim in the pool.
The two also admitted to being habitual drug users, a detail that, according to the defense, would have motivated their stay at the farmhouse.
The judge's decision and the continuation of the investigation
Despite the lack of credibility of this version, investigating judge Perrotta opted for less punitive measures. The 34-year-old will be required to report regularly for the mandatory signing, while the woman was released. This decision surprised many, considering the seriousness of the charges.
The investigation, however, continues. The clandestine weapons and the significant amount of ammunition suggest a much more structured operation than that of simple drug users.
Law enforcement will continue to investigate the weapons' origins and their actual use, with the aim of dismantling a potential illegal trafficking ring operating in the Benevento area.
It's strange how a judge could decide to release a man and a woman who had an arsenal, even though they claimed to be drug users. The justification seems unlikely and raises many questions about how the law works.