Immediate Trial for Franco Panariello, Accused of Stabbing His Wife to Death Amid Separation

Immediate judgement for Franco Panariello, the 56-year-old from Torre del Greco (Naples) who killed his wife, Concetta Marruocco, 53 years old, in Cerreto d'Esi (Ancona) by stabbing her. The crime took place on the night of October 14th last year. The couple was in the process of separating, and the husband was accused of domestic abuse, stalking, and sexual violence; he was also under a restraining order with an electronic bracelet which, however, did not sound that night to signal the 56-year-old's approach. The man had entered with a copy of the keys, surprised the woman in her sleep, and killed her with 43 stabs in the bedroom. The public prosecutor Paolo Gubinelli has concluded the investigation for the confessed defendant and has requested an immediate trial. The hearing has been scheduled for June 21st in the Court of Assizes of Ancona. At the end of the investigation, the premeditation initially contested to Panariello fell, and the immediate trial was requested for voluntary homicide aggravated by the family bond and diminished defense, for the use of the weapon, and for violating the restraining order: he risks life imprisonment. The defense of Panariello, represented by the lawyer Ruggero Benvenuto, upon receiving the notification of the decree for immediate judgement, has formalized a request to the judge for an alternative procedure, despite its abstract inapplicability due to the crime contested to the defendant, and has raised the issue of constitutionality of the crime of spouse homicide for contradiction to Article 3 of the Constitution, the principle of equality. 'The abbreviated procedure would be admitted for someone who kills a sibling. - is the essence of the defensive reasoning - Why not for the homicide of a spouse? It is hoped that the Court will ascertain the foundation of the constitutional issue raised - comments lawyer Benvenuto - and refer it to the Constitutional Court to evaluate the violation of the principle of equality.' Panariello had reached his wife's home with a kitchen knife.