A wealthy Italian socialite who repeatedly ran over a mugger with her luxury SUV to retrieve her allegedly stolen handbag has been sentenced to 18 years under house arrest.
Incident in Viareggio
Italian businesswoman Cinzia Dal Pino, 65, was caught on CCTV mowing down Noureddine “Said” Mezgui in the coastal city of Viareggio in September 2024 after he snatched her bag. Shocking footage showed Dal Pino veer off the road in her white Mercedes GLE and slam into the Moroccan man before crushing him beneath the vehicle. As Mezgui lay on the ground, she reversed and drove over him again before getting out in high heels, retrieving her handbag, and leaving the scene. The 52-year-old was later pronounced dead.
Court Decision
A court this week convicted Dal Pino of aggravated voluntary homicide but ruled she could serve her 18-year sentence under house arrest. The wealthy socialite has already spent months under electronic monitoring while awaiting trial.
Defense and Prosecution Arguments
Dal Pino claimed Mr Mezgui had mugged her outside a restaurant after a dinner date and threatened her with a knife. “He threatened to kill me. I was scared. I just wanted my belongings back,” she told police. However, investigators later revealed that no knife was found. Prosecutors argued that the attack went far beyond self-defence and amounted to a calculated act of revenge. They told the court that Dal Pino deliberately chased the man down and repeatedly drove over him after the initial impact. Her lawyer argued that she never intended to kill Mr Mezgui and only wanted to stop him and recover her handbag, which contained her phone, keys, and personal documents.
Public Reaction
The case divided Italy, with Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini arguing the tragedy would never have happened if the victim had not committed the alleged robbery. But Mr Mezgui’s family demanded justice, describing the killing as horrific. “Not even an animal is killed in this way,” his sisters said. They accused Dal Pino of calmly driving away while their brother lay dying on the road.
Legal Outcome
The court rejected defence attempts to have the charge reduced to self-defence or manslaughter. Dal Pino, a prominent figure in the Tuscan resort city, was identified through her vehicle registration and arrested just hours after the incident.
