The death of a tourist in Italy in 2024, caused by a statue thrown by a 13-year-old from a balcony, has returned to media attention as the minor's parents are being charged with manslaughter. 30-year-old Chiara Jaconis was celebrating her birthday in Naples with her boyfriend when she was struck and killed by a 2 kg heavy statue while walking on the street.
The parents of the 13-year-old who threw the statue from the balcony are facing charges of involuntary manslaughter, as prosecutors argue that they failed to properly supervise their son. The prosecution is seeking to charge the child's mother and father with negligent homicide because the 13-year-old is suspected of having committed similar dangerous acts in the past.
Investigations revealed that the boy had previously thrown other objects from the balcony, including clothes hangers, a remote control, and a tablet. However, his parents deny any wrongdoing and have claimed that the statue did not belong to them.
"This is a tragedy that has struck two respectable families, that of Chiara and that of the two professionals," said the couple's lawyer, Carlo Bianco. He added that the parents have always shown "great care and protection towards their son, who has suffered from health problems since birth." The couple has appealed the court's decision to dismiss charges against their son due to his age, arguing that he should be acquitted based on the facts of the case, not simply because of his age.