Ranucci attack: Lavitola's case is ready for review, no escape to Ethiopia.

Rome – "The risk of escape and evidence tampering has disappeared. We will appeal to the preliminary hearing after the preliminary investigations judge's rejection of his detention," said Sergio Cola, a longtime lawyer for Valter Lavitola, commenting on preliminary investigations judge Iole Moricca's decision.

According to investigators, Lavitola was ready to leave for Africa, so much so that he had purchased a plane ticket to Addis Ababa. But the lawyer explains that the arrested businessman's attack on Sigfrido Ranucci wasn't an escape attempt: "There's an explanation. He was expected at the conference of experts in Africa regarding the carbon credit project. That meeting was subsequently held via videoconference."

Attorney Cola: "There's no risk of evidence tampering or escape. We're considering a review."

In an interview with Agorà Estate, attorney Cola clarified Lavitola's position, including regarding what was said during the lengthy preliminary hearing. "Lavitola has decided to cooperate and make a full confession, so we believe there is no longer any risk, even regarding evidence tampering." The defense is now preparing to file a motion for release from prison with the Review Court.

And regarding Ranucci's knowledge of the instigator of the attack, he reiterated: "Lavitola made a conjecture. He responded that it was possible Ranucci suspected him. But that's his conjecture. I can't report what was said during the five-hour interrogation. In agreement with the magistrates, I have only disclosed the bare minimum of the content, which, however, will require further investigation and therefore must remain confidential."

Part of the interrogation, at least the main points, were revealed in the order rejecting the house arrest. The Prosecutor's Office certainly doesn't believe Lavitola's motive for organizing the raid on the Report journalist—namely, "increasing the security detail"—is plausible. Furthermore, during the interrogation, the fixer denied having ordered a bomb attack, but rather, had wanted shots fired at the host's home.

These two circumstances should be confirmed by the facts. The Rome Prosecutor's Office is still investigating the allegations made during the interrogation.