Meloni on the Roggero case: “Anyone who commits a crime cannot claim compensation. Enough of these paradoxes”

“You attack me. I defend myself. And I’m supposed to compensate you? That’s not fair. With the latest Security Bill, we are introducing a rule based purely on common sense: anyone who suffers harm whilst committing a crime cannot claim any compensation, nor can their family members.” This was the response from Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni following the controversy surrounding the Roggero case – for which a detention order, signed at 12.45 pm by the Asti Public Prosecutor’s Office, has now been issued – and the claims for compensation from the relatives of the thieves killed by the jeweller: “Those who break the law cannot expect to be compensated by those who defended themselves. The State stands with law-abiding citizens. Not with criminals,” she wrote in a post on X accompanied by the caption: “Enough of these paradoxes! Anyone who commits a crime cannot claim compensation for damages suffered whilst committing the offence.”

Meloni’s statement, as we have said, comes amidst the controversy that arose after the Court of Cassation, two days ago, definitively upheld the sentence of 14 years and 9 months imposed on appeal on Mario Roggero, a jeweller from Grinzane Cavour, in the Cuneo area, who was convicted of shooting dead two robbers and wounding a third following the raid on his shop on 28 April 2021. Since the events took place – captured on CCTV footage from the jewellery shop – Roggero – who has never expressed any remorse for his actions – has become a symbol for a section of the Italian right, which has inappropriately referred to the incident as ‘self-defence’. A race to exploit the situation has ensued between Vannacci and Salvini, with the Lega secretary going so far as to ask President Sergio Mattarella for a pardon following the conviction, whilst the former general has publicly expressed his support. Meanwhile, Justice Minister Carlo Nordio has launched a preliminary inquiry into granting him a pardon, but Mattarella, following a meeting with the Justice Minister at the Quirinale yesterday, pointed out that the power to grant a pardon lies “exclusively” with the Head of State. Not least because there is an even simpler issue: the Supreme Court has not yet published its grounds for the ruling in the Roggero case. Before discussing a pardon, one should at least be aware of the grounds for the final judgement and understand whether there are factors that would justify such an exceptional measure. At present, these grounds are unknown.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani also spoke in the debate: “It is up to the President of the Republic to grant a pardon, but I believe that this man (Mario Roggero, ed.) was in the wrong, albeit in the wrong whilst defending his family, and I believe that, being 72 years old, he may be forgiven by our society.” “In Italy, we can forgive someone who has reacted with excessive self-defence,” he continued, “but I believe it is right to forgive at this stage; I believe this is a sentiment shared by the vast majority of us.”