Torre del Greco - Prison remains the only possible measure for Tommaso Severino, the 28-year-old businessman from Ercolano who, during the night between October 31st and November 1st, hit a police car with his SUV on the Torre del Greco coast road, killing the officer. Aniello Scarpati and seriously injuring his colleague Ciro Cozzolino.
Today, the Court of Naples - Review Section - confirmed the prosecution's case and the pre-trial detention of the young man, arrested for aggravated vehicular homicide and failure to provide assistance.
The decision comes as the city continues to mourn the death of Scarpati, whose funeral took place just as chilling new details emerged about the tragic night.
"Desperate and dismayed", but the judge was clear
Assisted by attorney Domenico Dello Iacono, Severino appeared before the preliminary investigations judge of the Torre Annunziata Court for the validation hearing. "I am desperate and dismayed by what happened," he reportedly told the magistrate, admitting to having driven despite alcohol consumption and acknowledging his impaired state.
These words weren't enough to convince the investigating judge last month, who had granted the Torre Annunziata prosecutor's request, rejecting the defense's proposal for house arrest. Nor did they convince the review judges.
Severino was driving under the combined influence of alcohol and cocaine. Toxicology tests confirmed the presence of cocaine in his blood and a blood alcohol level well above the legal limit.
Crazy speed despite passengers' pleas
The picture that emerged from the investigation was of behavior "characterized by an extremely high level of culpability." Severino was traveling "at extremely high speed despite several passengers, including three underage girls, repeatedly urging him to slow down." This detail makes the reconstruction of that fateful night even more dramatic.
But it's what happened after the crash that leaves us speechless. Instead of helping the injured officers and his own passengers, the 28-year-old allegedly lit a cigarette at the scene of the accident and then walked away, without helping anyone. This conduct the investigating judge called "almost flagrant," deeming the arrest "mandatory and justified by the gravity of the facts and the personality of the suspect."
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