The Assize Court of Lucca has sentenced to Cinzia Dal Pino sentenced to 18 years in prison, 65 years old, seaside entrepreneur from Viareggio, held responsible for the voluntary homicide of Noureddine Mezgui, known as Said, a 52-year-old Moroccan citizen. The man died after being hit by an SUV on September 8, 2024, in Viareggio, a few minutes after stealing the woman's purse. The judges ordered that the sentence be served in home detention regime, a level at which Dal Pino had already found himself since September 2024.
The verdict after the trial in Lucca
The sentence came at the end of a trial before the Court of Assizes of Lucca, which found the defendant guilty of voluntary manslaughter. The Prosecutor's Office had requested a life sentence, arguing that the woman had not acted merely to stop the man or retrieve her purse, but had also attempted to attack and overpower him. The Court rejected the request for the maximum sentence, but nevertheless rejected the defense's arguments that suggested a different classification of the crime.
The investment in the Viareggio dock
The events date back to the evening of September 8, 2024, in the Darsena neighborhood of Viareggio. According to the investigation, Cinzia Dal Pino noticed that Noureddine Mezgui had stolen her purse and began chasing him in her SUV. The man was caught shortly thereafter on Via Coppino, where he was struck by the car. The images acquired during the investigation documented the sequence of the collision, a crucial element in the reconstruction of the incident.
Rescue and death in hospital
After the accident, Mezgui was rescued by passersby and rushed to Versilia Hospital, where he arrived in critical condition. Forensic tests later determined that the cause of death was a severe laceration of the abdominal aorta, resulting in internal bleeding. The autopsy also revealed numerous fractures consistent with the collision, confirming the force of the impact that had caused fatal injuries.
The images from the cameras and the reconstruction
Footage from surveillance cameras in the area played a significant role in the trial. The footage allegedly showed the SUV approaching the man while he was on the sidewalk with the stolen goods, before running him over. The footage captured by the cameras was used in the trial to reconstruct the incident and assess the intent of the accused's alleged conduct.
The Prosecutor's Office's line
The prosecution had requested a life sentence, arguing the charge of voluntary manslaughter. According to the prosecution's argument, Dal Pino used the car as an offensive tool after stealing the bag, transforming the chase into a private and violent response. The prosecutor's office argued that the conduct could not be interpreted as a simple attempt to stop the man, but as a deliberate act, carried out in a manner likely to cause his death.
The defense and the request for downgrading
The defense, represented by attorneys Enrico Marzaduri and Alberto Gargani, had asked the court to reformulate the charge. They argued for excessive self-defense or, alternatively, manslaughter, denying the presence of homicide intent. According to the defense's version, Dal Pino had merely wanted to stop the man and retrieve the bag, which contained personal belongings important to her, without any intention of killing him.
Dal Pino's statements
Throughout the proceedings, the defendant reiterated that she had not intended to cause Mezgui's death. During the hearing to validate her arrest, she stated that she had acted to stop the man after the bag was stolen, also explaining that she had been unable to immediately call the police because her cell phone was inside the stolen bag. The Court, however, did not accept the defense's argument regarding the lack of intentional homicide.
The psychiatric assessment of the accused
A psychiatric evaluation was also discussed during the trial, which ruled out any mental defects in Cinzia Dal Pino. The assessment found the defendant fully capable of understanding and willing at the time of the events. This factor impacted the assessment of criminal liability, ruling out any incapacity that would have diminished her position with respect to the alleged conduct.
The decision on house arrest
While sentencing him to 18 years in prison, the Court ruled that the sentence be served under house arrest. Dal Pino followed the reading of the sentence in court, alongside his daughter, without displaying any apparent reaction. The decision concludes the first-instance trial in a case that had received considerable public attention, partly because of the private reaction after a theft and the boundary between defense, revenge, and criminal liability.
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