A 30-year-old woman celebrating her birthday in Italy died after being struck by a statuette that fell from above – and now, prosecutors say a 13-year-old boy’s parents could be held responsible.
Chiara Jaconis was visiting Naples in September 2024 when tragedy struck. She had been walking down the street with her boyfriend, Livio Rousseau when a 4.4-pound onyx statuette suddenly fell from a hotel balcony above.
The object dropped roughly 32 feet before hitting her in the head.
Rousseau was captured on camera shouting “Chiara” and “oh my god” as he rushed to help her and called for assistance. She was taken to the hospital with severe brain injuries but died two days later.
Investigators believe the statuette shattered on impact due to the force of the fall.
“This is a tragedy that has struck two respectable families”
Authorities allege the object was thrown by a 13-year-old boy from the balcony. However, because Italy’s age of criminal responsibility is 14, the child cannot be prosecuted. Instead, the focus has shifted to his parents.
Prosecutors are now pursuing them on manslaughter charges, arguing they “should have supervised the boy” prior to the incident. Part of their case centers on claims that the boy had a history of throwing objects from high places, including “clothes pegs, a remote control, and a tablet.”
Despite this, a juvenile court has already cleared the teen, prompting prosecutors to seek accountability elsewhere.
The boy’s parents deny any wrongdoing. Their lawyer, Carlo Bianco, said in a statement: “This is a tragedy that has struck two respectable families, that of poor Chiara and that of the two professionals.”
He also argued that the statuette did not belong to the family and that they have “no case to answer.”
Chiara Jaconis’ death
The parents have called for the case against their son to be reopened, saying they want him to clear his name in court rather than being shielded by his age.
Naples mayor Gaetano Manfredi said: “It is a great sorrow, a tragedy that deeply affects all of us.”
Sergio Giordani, the mayor of Padua – where Jaconis grew up – described her death as “absurd and tragic.”
Meanwhile, Jaconis’ father, Gianfranco Jaconis, said the potential charges against the boy’s parents are “a step” toward justice.
“It doesn’t reward us or satisfy us because another hard and tortuous journey lies ahead. But it’s a start.
“The only consolation that will help us face this new tortuous journey, made up of hearings, testimonies, and interrogations, is that we are finally getting to the truth – the one we have always sought.”
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 26 to determine whether the case will go to trial.
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