Parents of boy, 13, who allegedly killed tourist with statue he tossed from balcony facing charges
The family of a 13-year-old boy accused of causing a woman’s death in Naples is now under legal scrutiny, with prosecutors in Italy pursuing manslaughter charges against the child’s parents.
Authorities argue the adults failed in their responsibility to properly supervise their son, suggesting that closer oversight could have prevented the fatal incident. The case stems from a September 15, 2024 घटना in the city’s Spanish Quarters, where 30-year-old tourist Chiara Jaconis was struck by a 4.4-pound onyx statue that had been thrown from above.
Jaconis, who was visiting Naples with her boyfriend Livio Rousseau to celebrate her 30th birthday, was walking slightly ahead of him while they pulled their luggage through the street. Moments before the impact, surveillance footage captured Rousseau shouting her name, followed by cries of shock and pleas for help. Jaconis suffered catastrophic brain injuries and later died in a hospital.
Because Italian law does not hold children under 14 criminally responsible, the boy himself has been cleared by a juvenile court. However, prosecutors have shifted their focus to his parents, describing the child as troubled and alleging negligence on their part.
The parents reject the accusations, maintaining they bear no responsibility. Their legal team also contends that the object involved did not belong to them, insisting there is no basis for the charges.
A court hearing scheduled for June 26 will decide whether the case against them will proceed to trial.
Jaconis had built a successful career in the fashion industry. Originally from Padua and based in Paris, she had been working for Prada since October 2022, overseeing operations across 15 stores in France, Monaco, and Belgium. Her previous roles included positions with L’Oréal, Givenchy, and Christian Louboutin. Earlier in her career, she worked as a sales assistant at Disneyland Paris.
The tragic nature of her death prompted widespread grief and outrage across Italy. Naples Mayor Gaetano Manfredi described the incident as deeply distressing for the community, while Padua Mayor Sergio Giordani called it both senseless and heartbreaking.
Prosecutors concluded their investigation roughly eight months after the incident, bringing the case to its current stage.
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