See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred SourceBy SABRINA PENTY, FOREIGN NEWS REPORTER Published: 13:55 BST, 17 July 2026 | Updated: 14:00 BST, 17 July 2026
Italians are divided over the conviction of a jeweller who shot dead two robbers after they raided his shop as the country's Supreme Court this week rejected an appeal against his 14-year prison sentence. Mario Roggero, 72, killed two men and wounded a third in 2021 after they robbed his jewellery store in Grinzane Cavour, a small town in northern Italy.Video footage clearly showed Roggero chasing the men outside after the robbery had taken place, before shooting them with a pistol he kept under the counter. Roggero's wife and daughter were in the shop when the robbers entered, carrying a toy gun and a knife. He was sentenced to 14 years and nine months behind bars in December last year for murder and attempted murder, and an appeal was rejected on Wednesday by the Supreme Court, upholding rulings that he had gone beyond the limits of legitimate self-defence because the threat posed by the robbers had passed. He has received strong backing from Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's coalition, which opposed his conviction, arguing that he had been defending his life and property. The country's ruling parties yesterday called for a presidential pardon for Roggero, saying any prison term would effectively amount to a life sentence given his age.'After a lifetime of work, I don't think it's fair to spend years in prison at 72 after being assaulted and robbed,' said Matteo Salvini, leader of the coalition far-right League party. The shooting was captured on video Roggero shot the robbers after they raided his jewellery shop Mario Roggero was sent to prison after judges ruled that Mario Roggero was not acting in self-defence at the moment he opened fireIn a joint statement, the ruling parties said they would collect signatures in support of a pardon request. Under Italian law, the justice ministry reviews such petitions before forwarding them to President Sergio Mattarella.The case has deeply divided public opinion in Italy. Those who believe he is guilty agree that the jeweller exceeded the bounds of legitimate self-defence when he opened fire outside the shop.Roggero maintained his innocence on social media pages, followed by thousands of supporters and also sought donations to help cover his legal expenses.Italian media reported that he had turned himself in on Thursday at a jail in the northern town of Fossano.After his conviction became final, he posted a video thanking supporters and urging them to continue the fight for what he called a justice system capable of responding to 'increasingly rampant crime'.
