Italian lawyers group slams court review of US trial defense

Several professional associations for Italian criminal defense lawyers are slamming a Rome court's unusual attack on the team defending two U.S. young men in the trial for the murder of an Italian police officer

ROME -- Several professional associations representing Italian criminal defense lawyers have slammed a Rome court’s written attack on the team which defended two U.S. young men in their trial for the murder of an Italian police officer. Last week, the court explained in writing its May 5 convictions and life sentences for Finnegan Lee Elder, 21, and Gabriel Natale-Hjorth 20. It blasted the defense lawyers for trying to sow doubt about the credibility of the plainclothes partner of Carabinieri Vice Brigadiere Mario Cerciello Rega. Cerciello Rega, 35, died after being stabbed 11 times on a street near the Americans’ hotel in July 2019. Prosecutors alleged that Elder knifed Cerciello Rega while Natale-Hjorth scuffled with his partner, Officer Andrea Varriale. Both Americans say they acted in self-defense because they believed they were being attacked by thugs.