A 13-year-old boy accused of killing a tourist by throwing a statue from a balcony in Naples allegedly had a history of throwing objects from balconies, according to prosecutors. The boy's parents, who face manslaughter charges, deny the statue belonged to them and have appealed the court's decision.
Chiara Jaconis, a 30-year-old Italian tourist, was celebrating her birthday in Naples with her boyfriend in 2024 when a 4.4lbs statue struck her in the head. She collapsed instantly and died two days later in hospital from traumatic brain injuries.
Under Italian law, the child cannot be held criminally liable, so prosecutors are charging his parents with negligent manslaughter, arguing they failed to supervise him. Investigators claim the boy had previously thrown other objects, including clothes, a remote control, and a tablet, from the balcony.
The parents' lawyer, Carlo Bianco, said the family is devastated and that the parents have always shown great care for their son, who has suffered from health problems since birth. The couple has appealed the court's decision, seeking to clear their son's name based on the facts of the case.
Chiara's father, Gianfranco Jaconis, welcomed the indictment of the parents as a step toward justice, saying, 'The only consolation is that we are finally getting to the truth—the one we have always sought.' The incident was captured on CCTV, showing Chiara collapsing as she walked with her boyfriend in the Spanish Quarters.
