Roggero, final sentence: 14 years and 9 months for the jeweler who killed two robbers.

The Supreme Court upholds the lower court's ruling: self-defense was not recognized because the robbers' action had already concluded when the merchant opened fire. This concludes the criminal proceedings for the events of April 28, 2021, but the political front opens with Matteo Salvini's request for pardon and the European judicial front announced by the defense.

The decision of the Supreme Court

Mario Roggero, the jeweler from Grinzane Cavour, in the Cuneo area, who killed two robbers and injured a third after the robbery of his shop on April 28, 2021, has been sentenced to 14 years and 9 months in prison.

The First Criminal Section of the Court of Cassation rejected the appeal filed by the defense, making the sentence handed down last December by the Turin Court of Assizes of Appeal irrevocable and confirming the ruling already established in the first instance trial.

The facts: the robbery and the shooting

The incident dates back to the afternoon of April 28, 2021, when three men broke into the Roggero family's jewelry store, where the businessman's wife and daughter were also present.

After stealing their loot, the robbers attempted to flee. Roggero chased them outside the store to the parking lot and opened fire with his own pistol at the car in which they were trying to escape.

Giuseppe Mazzarino, 58, and Andrea Spinelli, 44, died in the attack, while the third member of the gang, Alessandro Modica, was injured but managed to save himself.

According to what emerged during the trial, the criminals were armed with a toy gun and a knife.

Why self-defense was ruled out

Both the Court of Asti and the Court of Assizes of Appeal of Turin had excluded the existence of self-defense, even in the putative form invoked by the defendant's defense.

In their appeal ruling, the judges emphasized that "the robbers' aggressive actions were completely over" when Roggero fired his shots, thus deeming the imminent danger required by law for exculpatory reasons to be over.

Salvini: "I ask for a pardon for Roggero."

The Supreme Court's decision has reignited the political debate. Deputy Prime Minister and League leader Matteo Salvini has announced an appeal to the President of the Republic for a pardon.

"Many of us stand with Mario Roggero," he wrote on social media, calling the conviction unjust and arguing that the jeweler responded to a robbery in his shop, in the presence of his family. Salvini also reiterated the need to further strengthen the law on self-defense and to legally exclude compensation for damages to the families of robbers killed or injured during a crime.

The defense refuses to give up: possible appeal to Strasbourg

Lawyers Stefano Marcolini and Sergio Rovani, who had hoped the appeal would be accepted, expressed deep disappointment.

The lawyers are now awaiting the filing of the Supreme Court's reasons to assess further procedural steps. Among the options on the table is an appeal to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, should any issues arise that they believe violate the rights guaranteed by the European Convention.

For now, however, the sentence is final and Roggero will have to serve a sentence of 14 years and 9 months in prison.