Italian parents face manslaughter charges after statuette thrown by son kills tourist

Chiara Jaconis had moved to France and was working for Prada. Photo / Chiara Jaconis

The Italian parents of a teenage boy accused of killing a tourist with a statuette are facing manslaughter charges alleging they failed to supervise their son.

Chiara Jaconis, 30, was in Naples celebrating her birthday when she was killed by a falling statuette as she walked through the city’s Spanish Quarter with her boyfriend, reported Metro.

CCTV footage from a nearby cafe captured the moment she collapsed as her boyfriend screamed for help, according to the Daily Mail. She was rushed to hospital and had surgery but died two days later from brain injuries.

Police said the statuette was thrown from a third-floor balcony by the 13-year-old boy. A juvenile court cleared him because Italian law does not allow criminal charges against those under 14.

The statuette weighed just over 2kg. It fell from a height of 10m before it shattered on the balcony below, reported the Daily Mail. One of the pieces struck Jaconis’ head.

Naples prosecutors have requested a trial for the couple on joint manslaughter charges, Metro reported, arguing Jaconis’ death on September 15, 2024, could have been prevented.

However, the couple, professionals aged 65 and 54, deny any wrongdoing and have claimed the statuette did not belong to them, reported Metro.

Chiara Jaconis was celebrating her birthday when she died. Photo / Chiara Jaconis

Through their lawyers, the couple said they had no involvement in Jaconis’ death.

They also argued their son should be formally acquitted on the facts of the case rather than solely based on his age, reported Metro.

Jaconis was born in Italy but had moved to Paris for work as a store manager for Prada, according to her LinkedIn.

Last year, a memorial was organised to mark her death with her family and officials attending, according to the Daily Mail.

Her mother asked those there to “live life in colour, because that’s what she always did”.

A preliminary hearing at the Naples Court is scheduled for June 26.