A boy accused of killing a tourist by dropping a statue on her head had a habit of throwing objects from windows and balconies, according to prosecutors.
Chiara Jaconis, 30, was celebrating her birthday in Naples with her boyfriend in 2024, when she was fatally struck by a 2kg figure as she walked down the street.
The parents of the 13-year-old child are facing manslaughter charges, with prosecutors arguing they did not keep a close enough eye on him.
They are now requesting that the teen’s mother and father be charged with negligent manslaughter because the schoolboy is alleged to have carried out similar dangerous acts in the past.
Investigations revealed that the boy had previously thrown other objects off the balcony including clothes pegs, a remote control and a tablet, prosecutors have said.
However, the couple strongly deny any wrongdoing and have claimed the statuette did not belong to them.
‘This is a tragedy that has struck two respectable families, that of poor Chiara and that of the two professionals,’ said Carlo Bianco, the couple’s lawyer.
He added that the parents have always shown ‘great care and protection toward their son, who has suffered from health problems since birth’.
CCTV footage captured the horrifying moment Chiara was killed, with the clip showing the tourist walking down Naples’s Spanish Quarters with her boyfriend Livio Rousseau, when she is suddenly hit
Chiara (pictured) was taken to hospital, where she died two days later from traumatic brain injuries
The pair have appealed the court’s decision to clear their son because of his age, arguing he should be acquitted based on the facts of the case rather than simply because of his age.
With a preliminary hearing scheduled for June 26, Chiara’s parents are actively seeking justice.
Her father, Gianfranco Jaconis, said: ‘The request for indictment of the parents of the child who allegedly threw the figurine from the balcony that killed our Chiara?
‘It’s a step we’ve been waiting for. It doesn’t reward us or satisfy us because another hard and tortuous journey lies ahead. But it’s a start.
‘The only consolation that will help us face this new tortuous journey, made up of hearings, testimonies, and interrogations, is that we are finally getting to the truth—the one we have always sought.’
CCTV footage captured the horrifying moment Chiara was injured, with the clip showing the tourist walking down Naples’s Spanish Quarters with her boyfriend Livio Rousseau, when she is suddenly hit and falls motionless to the floor.
In the seconds that follow, her boyfriend falls to his knees as he screams and calls for help.
Paramedics arrived at the scene and Chiara was taken to hospital, where she died two days later from traumatic brain injuries, local media reported at the time.
The statuette – which depicted an ancient pagan deity – reportedly fell from a third floor apartment as Chiara walked past.
The figure, which weighed just over 2kg, fell from a height of ten metres, and before hitting the ground, shattered on the balcony below, on the second floor, breaking.
One of the pieces struck Chiara on the head, severely injuring her. Several people, including some minors, were present in the apartment where the statuette was located, according to local media.
Italian-born Chiara worked as a store manager for the fashion house Prada and had spent some time working for the brand in France.
At a memorial event held for her last year, her mother said: ‘I invite you to live life in colour, because that’s what she always did.’
