The parents of a teen who is accused of throwing a heavy statue from a balcony may face murder charges after a woman was found murdered.
Chiara Jaconis, 30, was vacationing in Naples, Italy with her boyfriend when she was fatally struck by an onyx statue that was reportedly thrown from the balcony by a 13-year-old boy on September 15, 2024. The couple were walking on a quiet street in the city when the boy allegedly threw the 4.4-pound statue from the third-floor residence, hitting Chiara on the head.
CCTV footage captured the shocking moment Chiara was shot. She immediately fell motionless to the ground as her lover seemed unsure of what had happened, mirror report.
Paramedics arrived at the scene and Chiara was taken to hospital where she underwent emergency surgery, but died from traumatic brain injuries two days later.
The teenager accused of throwing the statue was acquitted by a juvenile court because he was under the age of 14 – meaning he could not be held criminally responsible under Italian law.
Prosecutors are now arguing that Chiara’s death could have been prevented if the boy’s parents had kept a closer eye on him. They are requesting that his parents be charged with negligent homicide as the teen is alleged to have committed similar dangerous acts in the past.
The couple have denied any wrongdoing and claimed the statue is not theirs, the Mail reports.
The parents have also appealed against the court’s decision to remove their son’s name because of his age. Instead they argue that he should be acquitted based on the facts of the case rather than his age.
The incident has attracted widespread attention in Italy and raised questions about parental responsibility in densely populated areas. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 26.
