Tourist Chiara Jaconis, 30, died after the statue fell on her head – she was rushed to hospital but she succumbed to her the traumatic injuries she sustained
A boy who is accused of killing a tourist by hurling a statue is alleged to have had a “habit of throwing objects from balconies” – but his parents deny the object belonged to them.
Italian tourist Chiara Jaconis, 30, celebrated her birthday with a visit to Naples with her boyfriend in 2024 when she was hit in the head by a 4.4lbs statue while they walked down the street. She collapsed instantly and was rushed to hospital – despite the best efforts of doctors, she died two days later due to traumatic brain injuries.
The 13-year-old’s parents now face manslaughter charges as under Italian law the child cannot be held criminally liable. Instead prosecutors argue his parents did not keep an eye on him.
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The prosecutors now want to charge the child’s mum and dad with negligent manslaughter after the schoolboy is alleged to have carried out similar acts in the past. Investigators claim the boy previously threw other objects from the balcony, including clothes begs, a remote control as well as a tablet.
But the couple has denied any wrongdoing and said the statue did not belong to them. Their lawyer, Carlo Bianco, said: “This is a tragedy that has struck two respectable families, that of poor Chiara and that of the two professionals.
He said the parents have always shown “great care and protection toward their son, who has suffered from health problems since birth.” The couple has since appealed the court’s decision in a bid to clear their son’s name and argue he should be acquitted based on the facts of the case, rather than due to his age.
But Chiara’s parents continue to seek justice with MailOnline reporting her dad Gianfranco added: “The request for indictment of the parents of the child who allegedly threw the figurine from the balcony that killed our Chiara?
“It’s a step we’ve been waiting for. It doesn’t reward us or satisfy us because another hard and tortuous journey lies ahead. But it’s a start.
“The only consolation that will help us face this new tortuous journey, made up of hearings, testimonies, and interrogations, is that we are finally getting to the truth—the one we have always sought.”
Horrifying CCTV footage captured the moment Chiara collapsed to the ground. She and her boyfriend Livio Rousseau, 19, had been walking around the city’s Spanish Quarters when the statue fell on her.
The couple had been walking around the city ahead of their flight home that evening, reports Il Messaggero.
She was taken to the Hospital of the Sea where she later died. She is understood to have previously received treatment at the Old Pellegrini hospital.
The statue reportedly depicted an ancient pagan deity and fell from a third-floor balcony. Chiara had been a store manager for fashion brand Prada in Paris.
She is understood to have previously worked for Christian Louboutin before moving to Prada several years ago. Chiara studied at Enrico Fermi Schientific High School in Padua, near Venice, and the ESCP Business School since 2017.
A memorial service was held for Chiara following her death, reports Il Mattino. Her mum, Cristina Venturi asked attendees for smiles and not tears, adding: “I invite you to live life in colour, because that’s what she always did. Tonight we will send her a big hug – she said again – there are balloons, we will toast to Chiara and then whoever wants can write a message, tie it to a balloon and then all together on the beach we will launch them into the air and this will be our big hug for her.”
