76-year-old from Reggio Emilia arrested for murder of disabled cousin
A 76-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of having killed his disabled 74-year-old cousin by secretly administering him a cream-filled pastry. The victim died on 27 June from asphyxiation in a care facility in Reggio Emilia; the investigation reveals an alleged economic motive linked to an i
Murder in care facility: legal guardian arrested
According to corrieredibologna.corriere.it, a 76-year-old from Reggio Emilia was arrested on Wednesday 28 October by the carabinieri on suspicion of premeditated murder with aggravating circumstances. The man, who has been the legal guardian of his cousin since 2009, is believed to be responsible for the death of his disabled 74-year-old relative that occurred on 27 June inside the protected care home where he was residing. The arrest was validated with a precautionary measure of house arrest.
The victim's death was caused by cardio-circulatory arrest provoked by airway obstruction. The carabinieri of Reggio Emilia concluded that the man deliberately administered solid foods to his cousin knowing that he had a serious difficulty in swallowing, a clinical condition known as dysphagia, as well as pathological gluttony. In the months preceding his death, several choking incidents had already been recorded.
On the day of death, the 76-year-old appeared at the facility while secretly carrying cream-filled pastries to avoid internal checks, which require visitors to show any food along with the purchase receipt to staff. The man handed the pastries to his cousin and then detained the staff on duty with a conversation about an electric razor, distracting them from dozens of metres away from the victim's room for several minutes. During this interval, the disabled man consumed the pastries and immediately began to experience respiratory difficulties.
The 76-year-old, upon returning to the room, did not immediately raise the alarm. Instead, he bought a carbonated drink from a vending machine in an attempt to have his cousin drink it to facilitate swallowing and remove visible traces of food. Only subsequently did he notify the facility staff, but without mentioning the pastries. Pastry crumbs were however visible on the victim's clothing; the operator who noticed them asked for an explanation and only then did the man admit to having given food to his cousin.
In the meantime the situation deteriorated. Resuscitation manoeuvres performed on site and the intervention of the 118 emergency services were unable to save the man. The medical personnel extracted several solid mouthfuls the size of a walnut from the trachea. The autopsy confirmed death from total airway obstruction and cardio-circulatory arrest.
The Reggian Prosecutor's office highlighted a series of aggravating factors in the defendant's behaviour. In addition to premeditation, the charges include abuse of the duties and powers inherent to the role of legal guardian, the fact that the victim was a certified disabled person admitted to a care facility, and so-called impaired defence, since the accused allegedly took advantage of circumstances of time, place and person that would obstruct the public and private defence of the victim.
The investigation revealed that this was not an isolated event. In the past the 76-year-old had attempted on several occasions to administer solid foods to his cousin, in contravention of the Individualised Care Plan (Pai) prescribed by doctors, which required a diet based on purées and fluid foods. Witnesses also reported the man's requests to relatives to agree on common versions of the previous choking incidents.
The financial checks carried out by investigators identified the potential economic motive. The 74-year-old had current accounts and deposits totalling over 300,000 euros. The 76-year-old, as a legitimate co-heir, would have received a substantial sum from the inheritance. The Prosecutor's office and the preliminary investigation judge considered this material element sufficient to support the charges, authorising the arrest on Thursday.
Source: Google News IT — Crime (it)