Cinzia Dal Pino receives prison sentence after killing man following bag theft

Italian socialite and businesswoman Cinzia Dal Pino has been sentenced to 18 years in prison after being convicted of voluntary manslaughter in connection with the death of a man she struck with her vehicle following a reported bag theft.

Dal Pino, a beach resort entrepreneur in her sixties, was sentenced on Thursday, June 11, over the death of Noureddine Mezgui, a homeless Moroccan national, after a court found her responsible for the fatal incident that occurred in Viareggio, Italy, in September 2024.

According to reports, surveillance footage captured Dal Pino allegedly following Mezgui with her SUV before striking him multiple times. She then reportedly recovered her bag and left the scene.

Dal Pino was arrested the following day after authorities found her at a nearby church, according to Italian news agency ANSA.

During a previous court hearing in December 2025, Dal Pino described the events from her perspective, saying she believed Mezgui posed a threat after taking her belongings.

She claimed she followed him because her stolen bag contained important personal items, including documents, a watch and information related to her accounts.

“I had everything in my bag,” she said, according to Corriere della Sera. “My documents, my watch, and a note with all the passwords to my bank accounts and other important logins.”

Dal Pino said she did not intend to kill Mezgui, claiming she wanted only to stop him.

“I drove toward him, toward the sidewalk. I didn't want to kill him, just knock him down so I could stop him,” she said, adding that she did not realise the seriousness of what had happened immediately.

Prosecutors had previously argued that Dal Pino’s actions represented an act of excessive revenge and requested a life sentence. Her defence team sought a lesser charge related to excessive self-defence.

The court ruled that Dal Pino can initially serve her 18-year sentence under house arrest. If the conviction is upheld after the final appeals process, she could be required to serve the remainder of the sentence in prison.

Following the verdict, Dal Pino’s lawyer announced plans to appeal the decision, while a lawyer representing Mezgui’s family said the ruling was the outcome they had been waiting for.

A restorative justice process has also begun, which could potentially influence the final outcome if an agreement is reached between the parties involved.

The case has drawn significant attention in Italy, raising questions about self-defence, retaliation and the limits of personal response after a crime.