Presidential clemency decrees

President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella signed three individual pardon decrees on 7 October 2026 under Article 87, Paragraph 11 of the Italian Constitution, following a favourable evaluation from the Ministry of Justice. Among the recipients is 66-year-old jeweler Guido Gianni, who received a partial pardon extinguishing three years and two months of his prison sentence. Gianni had been sentenced to twelve years and four months for double homicide and attempted murder. The Head of State took into account the favourable opinion of the supervisory magistrate, Gianni's deteriorating health, and the five years and three months he had already served. The reduction brings Gianni's remaining prison term below four years, allowing the Supervisory Court to consider alternative measures such as probation under social service supervision pursuant to Article 47 of the Penitentiary Act. Mattarella also pardoned A.A., born in 1972, remitting a remaining term of five years, five months, and ten days due to irreversible health conditions, and granted a partial pardon of one year and nine months to G.B., born in 1981, following social reintegration and consideration of his minor daughter's health.

The 2008 Nicolosi robbery

The charges against Gianni stemmed from an incident on 18 February 2008 at his Pierre Bonnet jewelry shop on Corso Italia in Nicolosi, near Catania. Three masked assailants entered the premises, assaulted Gianni and his wife, Maria Angela Distefano, and threatened them with a replica firearm lacking a red safety cap. Gianni retrieved a legally owned 9x21 caliber handgun from his workshop and fired warning shots before a scuffle broke out. Trial judges concluded that the fatal shots struck two 21-year-old robbers in the back while they were fleeing the store. The judiciary ruled that the actions exceeded legitimate self-defense, leading to a final sentence of twelve years and four months and Gianni's incarceration in 2022.

Family campaign and political reactions

Gianni's wife launched a public campaign and an online petition on Change.org in 2018 seeking presidential clemency, maintaining that her husband acted solely to protect their lives and store. Distefano expressed relief following the Quirinale announcement, noting that she had spoken with legal counsel to calculate the precise remaining sentence.

“I thank President Sergio Mattarella for the pardon, even if partial; for me he is my hero, he saved my life while I was suffering violence.”

The decision received public backing from several Italian political figures. Deputy Prime Minister and Lega leader Matteo Salvini, who previously visited Gianni at Palermo's Ucciardone prison alongside support from Lega Member of the European Parliament Susanna Ceccardi, welcomed the decree.

“A wonderful piece of news. In recent years I have followed the story of Guido Gianni closely, having also met him in prison, supporting his battle together with Lega. Today I am happy for him and for his family. I said it then and I continue to think it: anyone who is attacked in their own business, sees their wife threatened, and reacts to defend themselves and their loved ones cannot be treated like a criminal. A hug to Guido. Defense is always legitimate.”

Judicial context and public debate

Forza Italia Member of the European Parliament Fulvio Martusciello described the partial pardon as a decision of balance and humanity within constitutional prerogatives. The case drew comparisons in public discussion to that of Mario Roggero, a jeweler from Grinzane Cavour sentenced to fourteen years and nine months for shooting two fleeing robbers during a 2021 raid. Addressing the relationship between security and the rule of law during the Ventaglio ceremony in July, Mattarella stated that individual conduct must comply with common legal rules rather than adapting rules on a case-by-case basis.