Life imprisonment confirmed also in second degree for Franco Panariello, the 57-year-old held responsible for the murder of his wife Concetta Marruocco, stabbed to death on October 24, 2023 in her home in Cerreto d'Esi, in the province of Ancona.
The sentence was pronounced by the Court of Assizes of Appeal of Ancona, which fully confirmed the decision already issued in the first instance. The defendant, originally from Greek's tower, was charged with aggravated voluntary homicide: among the charges were his family relationship with the victim, impaired defense, use of a weapon and violation of the restraining order.
According to the evidence gathered during the trial, that night the man entered his wife's home using a copy of the keys he had kept despite the restraining order. Upon reaching her in the bedroom, he attacked her with a knife, killing her.
At the time of the incident, Panariello was already wearing an electronic bracelet as part of proceedings for mistreatment of his wife. However, the device did not detect the man's entry into the victim's home.
The defense, represented by the lawyer Matteo Bettin, had filed an appeal, arguing the defendant's alleged incapacity to understand and decide, and requesting a psychiatric evaluation. The request was rejected by the court presided over by Judge Giuliana Basilli.
The victim's family, who are a civil party, are assisted by lawyers Joseph Villa e Andrea NobiliBoth they and the defendant, who was transferred for the hearing from Montacuto Prison of Ancona, where he has been detained since the day of the crime. The reasons for the sentence will be filed within ninety days. Only after examining them will the defense be able to consider a possible appeal to the Court of Cassation.
It seems like a confirmed sentence, but I remain doubtful about how the bracelet did not indicate entry into the house. The man would have kept a copy of the keys, and this shows procedural flaws. The psychiatric assessment was rejected, but perhaps it should have been done in the first place.