Italy prepares to vote on self-defence law

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Italy's Chamber of Deputies on Thursday prepared to vote on a bill which will extend people's rights to "legitimate defence".

The new law would make it legitimate to respond with force to robbers or burglars who enter a property, even if this proves fatal.

Under current Italian law, accused parties usually have to show they had reasonable grounds to fear for their own life to avoid a murder charge. Some judges however have also allowed a "legitimate defence" argument based on a pattern of being regularly targeted by criminals. 

The amendments would change the requirements for claiming "legitimate defence" by extending them to include any nighttime break-in, or a robbery attempt involving threats or violence to people or things.  

But robbery victims would still need to prove "proportionality" between the offence and their defence, and the bill won't come into force until Italy's Senate also gives it the green light.

The bill has been in parliament for two years, but camr back into the spotlight after an investigation was opened in March into a restaurant owner who shot a burglar dead. The case sparked controversy across Italy and outrage from right-wing politicians in particular. 

There was also a strong display of public support for the shooter, with the restaurant in Gugnano near Milan packed with villagers, politicians, and reporters at lunchtime the following day.

Mario Cattaneo, 67, killed the burglar with a single shot from his hunting rifle after hearing intruders breaking into his restaurant during the night. He was placed under investigation for voluntary manslaughter - a crime which carries a minimum prison term of 21 years.

Maurizio Gasparri, a close ally of Silvio Berlusconi, immediately launched an appeal for funds to pay the restaurateur's legal bills.

However, Berlusconi's Forza Italia party has said it will vote against the bill on the grounds that robbery victims' rights are still not sufficiently protected under it, and the far-right Northern League also criticized the legislation.

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برچسب : نویسنده : استخدام کار italy بازدید : 279 تاريخ : پنجشنبه 14 ارديبهشت 1396 ساعت: 19:57