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Two Americans found guilty of murdering a police officer during a summer vacation in Rome were sentenced to life in an Italian prison.
After a trial that lasted more than a year and captured the attention of Italy, the jury deliberated for 12 hours before delivering its verdict against Finnegan Lee Elder, 21, and Gabriel Natale-Hjorth, 20, on Wednesday.
The school friends from California who murdered officer Mario Cerciello Raga in a drug deal gone bad were found guilty on all counts of homicide, attempted extortion, assault, resisting a public official and carrying an attack-style knife without just cause.
As the two men were lead from the courtroom, Mr Elder’s father called out “Finnegan, I love you”. The widow of the murdered officer held a photo while sobbing before hugging family as the verdict was delivered.
Mr Elder stabbed the vice brigadier of Italy’s Carabinieri police corps 11 times while Mr Natale-Hjorth helped hide the weapon after July 2019 murder, the court ruled.
They were both sentenced to the maximum of life in prison.
Before the verdict, Mr Elder told one of his lawyers “I’m stressed” before kissing the crucifix hanging around his neck. He was joined in the court by his parents, while Mr Natale-Hjorth, was joined by his Italian uncle.
Additional reporting by Associated Press.
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