Italian Businesswoman Sentenced to 18 Years House Arrest for Fatal Hit-and-Run
65-year-old Cinzia Dal Pino was convicted of aggravated voluntary homicide for running over a man she accused of stealing her handbag.
The incident occurred in Viareggio, Italy, in September 2024. Dal Pino drove her white Mercedes GLE into Noureddine 'Said' Mezgui, reversed, and drove over him again before retrieving her handbag and leaving the scene. Mezgui was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Court's Decision
The court rejected arguments of self-defense or manslaughter. Dal Pino had claimed Mezgui threatened her with a knife, but no knife was found at the scene. The court ruled the attack was a calculated act of revenge, not a response to an immediate threat.
Punishment and Circumstances
Despite the severity of the conviction, the court allowed Dal Pino to serve her 18-year sentence under house arrest with electronic monitoring, a condition she had been subject to while awaiting trial.
Reactions and Statements
"He threatened to kill me. I was scared. I just wanted my belongings back." — Cinzia Dal Pino, to police
"Not even an animal is killed in this way." — Mezgui's family
"The tragedy would not have happened if the victim had not committed the robbery." — Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini
Key Facts at a Glance:
- Victim: Noureddine 'Said' Mezgui
- Perpetrator: Cinzia Dal Pino, 65
- Sentence: 18 years house arrest
- Charge: Aggravated voluntary homicide
- Location: Viareggio, Italy
- Date: September 2024