Former Roma ultra Daniele De Santis
on Tuesday had his 26-year first-instance sentence cut to 16
years on appeal for the murder of Napoli fan Ciro Esposito ahead
of the 2014 Italian Cup final between Napoli and Fiorentina.
The 10-year cut in the sentence was due, judges said, to an
acquittal from the crime of affray as well as the exclusion of
futile motives and repeat offences.
De Santis's lawyer said his client was "partially satisfied"
with the verdict and would appeal to the supreme Court of
Cassation.
The appeals judges acquitted another two defendants, Napoli
fans Gennaro Fioretti and Alfonso Esposito, each sentenced to
eight months in jail at the first-instance trial for affray and
injuries to De Santis's face.
De Santis got the original 26-year sentence on March 24 last
year.
Esposito died 53 days after De Santis shot him on May 3,
2014, in a Naples hospital.
"You must rot for what you did," shouted someone in court
who was thought to have been one of Esposito's friends among the
Napoli fan base.
The mother of Ciro Esposito said the 26-year sentence
handed down on De Santis was "right and proper".
Antonella Leardi added that "I don't feel hatred for De
Santis because I've forgiven him".
De Santis had defended himself by saying he had responded to
an attack by Napoli fans.
Rome prosecutors had asked for a life sentence for De
Santis.
De Santis was a former member of a group of hardcore
'ultra' Roma fans and an extreme rightwing militant who has
admitted to pulling the trigger, but said he only did so as he
was being attacked with knives.
A medical report documented the fact that De Santis
suffered "cut wounds" in the clashes, Carabinieri police said in
2014.
De Santis was accused of manslaughter, bodily harm and
illegal possession of arms, among other things.
The lower court also ordered him to pay compensation of
50,000 euros each to Esposito's parents, as well as paying a
further 6,300 euros to compensate Naples city council and cover
court costs.
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