Mario Roggero's 14-year and 9-month sentence is finalized; Salvini requests a pardon.

Mario Roggero's 14-year and 9-month prison sentence has become final. The First Criminal Section of the Court of Cassation rejected the appeal filed by the defense of the jeweler from Gallo di Grinzane, in the Cuneo area, upholding the sentence handed down in December 2025 by the Turin Court of Assizes of Appeal. The case concerned the killing of two robbers and the wounding of a third man on April 28, 2021, following the attack on the Roggero family's jewelry store.

The lawyers announce that Roggero will turn himself in immediately

After the verdict was read, lawyers Stefano Marcolini and Sergio Rovani announced that Roggero will not wait for the execution of the sentence, but will voluntarily report to begin serving his sentence. The defense did not name the prison where the jeweler will turn himself in, specifying that it will be up to the man to decide whether to make this information public.

The jewelry store robbery of April 28, 2021

The legal case began on the afternoon of April 28, 2021 , when three men entered the Roggero jewelry store in Grinzane Cavour. The owner's wife and daughter were also in the store. The robbers, their faces covered, were armed with a knife and a gun that later turned out to be a toy gun. After threatening those present and stealing jewelry and money, the three left the store and reached the getaway car.

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The chase in the parking lot and the shooting at the robbers

Roggero exited the jewelry store, brandishing his gun, and chased the robbers into the parking lot. During that time, he fired several shots at the men and the car they were trying to get into. Giuseppe Mazzarino, 58, and Andrea Spinelli, 44, died from their injuries. Alessandro Modica, identified as the gang's driver, was injured but survived.

The defense's thesis based on fear and perceived danger

Throughout the proceedings, Roggero consistently maintained that he acted to protect himself and his family, who were still deeply shaken by the violence of the robbery. The defense invoked self-defense, including its putative form, arguing that the jeweler still perceived the danger posed by the robbers as real and present.

According to the lawyers, the reaction should have been evaluated considering the disturbance caused by the assault, the presence of the wife and daughter in the shop and the fear that one of the men might use what appeared to be a real gun.

For the judges the danger had already passed

The reconstruction accepted by the judges differed. Both the Assize Court of Asti, in the first-instance trial, and the Assize Court of Appeal of Turin ruled out the possibility that there was any ongoing danger to Roggero or his family at the time of the shooting.

In their appeal ruling, the magistrates emphasized that the attack was "completely concluded" : the robbers had left the jewelry store, were on the public highway, and were getting into their car to drive away. The armed response therefore occurred after the robbery, not during an ongoing attack.

The legal boundary of self-defense

The appeal ruling recalled that, even after the reform of self-defense passed in 2019, the use of a weapon can only be justified when the danger of an unjust offense is present and the reaction is necessary to protect one's own safety or that of others.

According to the Turin judges, these very requirements were lacking in the Roggero case. The three men were no longer inside the jewelry store and were not continuing the attack. The jeweler had chased them outside, firing shots at them as they attempted to flee.

Even putative self-defense is excluded

The defense argued that Roggero may have mistakenly believed a dangerous situation still existed, thus invoking so-called putative self-defense. This argument was also rejected.

The judges found no objective evidence to justify the belief that one of the robbers was still on the verge of attacking the jeweler or his family. The images acquired during the proceedings also contradicted the reconstruction according to which one of the men had pointed the gun at Roggero during the phase outside the jewelry store.

From a 17-year sentence to a reduction on appeal

In the first instance, the Assize Court of Asti had sentenced Mario Roggero to 17 years in prison . On December 3, 2025, the Turin Court of Appeal confirmed his responsibility for the murder of the two robbers and the attempted murder of the third, but re-imposed the overall sentence to 14 years and 9 months.

The reduction was calculated through a different application of the mechanism of continuation between crimes, with the aim of making the overall penalty proportionate to the seriousness of the offenses. However, mitigating circumstances were not recognized to their fullest extent.

The appeal was rejected by the first criminal section

The defense filed a detailed appeal to the Court of Cassation, challenging the Turin judges' decision on several grounds. The Attorney General's Office requested that the complaints be dismissed, deeming them unfounded.

With its decision of July 15, 2026, the First Criminal Section rejected the appeal and rendered the appeal ruling final. The Court of Cassation therefore did not alter the legal reconstruction of the facts nor the sentence imposed in the second instance.

The defenders: "Surprised and extremely disappointed"

Roggero's lawyers expressed deep disappointment with the outcome of the trial. The defense believed that the numerous arguments presented could lead to the verdict being overturned or the case being reconsidered.

The lawyers explained that it will be necessary to wait for the Supreme Court's reasoning to be filed to understand the judges' reasoning and determine what action to take. While acknowledging the finality of the conviction under Italian law, the defense has raised the possibility of appealing to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.

The possible initiative before the European Court

A possible appeal to Strasbourg would not constitute a further stage in the criminal proceedings and would not allow the European Court to replace Italian judges in assessing liability. The initiative should be based on the alleged violation of one or more rights guaranteed by the European Convention.

Before making a decision, the lawyers intend to examine the Supreme Court's reasoning and determine whether the issues already raised can be referred to European judges. In the meantime, the conviction remains final and enforceable.

The last message published before the verdict

On the eve of the decision, Roggero posted a video on social media to those who had expressed their support over the years. The jeweler described the wait for the ruling as extremely difficult for himself and his family, thanking his supporters for their messages and the financial support they had received.

In his final appeal, he asked for prayers, explaining that the lengthy legal proceedings were having serious personal, family, and financial consequences. Roggero also expressed fears of not being able to remain with his family and eight grandchildren.

Compensation and economic consequences of the trial

In addition to the prison sentence, there are also civil and financial consequences arising from the incident. During the proceedings, provisional payments were awarded to the families of those killed and the injured robber.

To cover legal costs and meet the financial obligations imposed by the judges, Roggero had launched a fundraiser, receiving donations from numerous supporters. A portion of the funds had reportedly already been paid through the sale of family real estate.

Salvini asks Mattarella to pardon Roggero

Following the confirmation of the sentence, Deputy Prime Minister and League leader Matteo Salvini spoke out, calling the decision profoundly unjust and appealing to President Sergio Mattarella to consider granting a pardon.

Salvini described Roggero as a father, husband, grandfather, and worker who responded to a robbery at his family's business. The League leader announced he will do everything possible to support the request, linking the case to the need to further expand the legal protections afforded to people attacked in their homes or businesses.

The request to further amend the law on self-defense

According to Salvini, the legislation passed in previous years is still insufficient to fully protect business owners and citizens who respond to thefts, robberies, and assaults. The Deputy Prime Minister also relaunched the proposal to bar compensation payments to the families of people injured or killed while committing a crime.

The statements have reopened the political debate on the relationship between the right to defense, the proportionality of the response, and the protection of human life. On the judicial level, however, the Roggero case has now concluded with a final ruling.

Vannacci: "Without that robbery, nothing would have happened."

Roberto Vannacci, leader of the National Future party, also weighed in on the case, emphasizing that the entire incident stemmed from the robbers' entry into the jewelry store. While clarifying that he did not intend to substitute himself for the magistrates in their legal assessments, Vannacci maintained that, without the store robbery, Roggero would have continued his life and there would not have been two victims.

For Vannacci, the case represents a symbol of the debate on the protection of those who suffer an attack and the consequences that a robbery can have even after the physical cessation of the danger.

A case that continues to divide public opinion

Mario Roggero's story has sparked strong public opinion. On one side, there are those who consider the jeweler a victim of the robbery and believe the sentence is excessively severe. On the other, there is a reiteration of the principle that armed response cannot be justified once the attack has ended and the victims are walking away.

The final ruling establishes the legal boundary applied to the specific case: self-defense requires present danger and a necessary response. For the judges examining the case, the shots were fired when that condition no longer existed.

The sentence is final, but the political debate remains open.

The rejection of the appeal concludes the Italian judicial process that began after the 2021 robbery. Mario Roggero will face a 14-year and 9-month sentence, while his lawyers will evaluate possible initiatives before the European Court of Human Rights.

The political debate over self-defense and the possible request for pardon from the President remains open. This debate is set to continue, but it is distinct from the Supreme Court's ruling that upheld the conviction for the killings of Giuseppe Mazzarino and Andrea Spinelli and the wounding of Alessandro Modica.