Giuseppe Monopoli appeals to Italian institutions after son's death ruling

Giuseppe Monopoli, the father of Donato Monopoli, has issued an open letter to Italian parliamentarians and judges following a recent court ruling regarding the death of his son. Donato, a 25-year-old from Cerignola, died in 2019 after spending seven months in a coma following a violent assault outside a nightclub in the Foggia area.

The Bari Court of Appeal recently issued a sentence following a remand from the Court of Cassation. The two defendants, Francesco Stallone and Michele Verderosa, were sentenced to 7 years and 2 months and 4 years and 11 months, respectively. The court confirmed the crime as preterintentional homicide.

The Monopoli family expressed deep bitterness over the reduction of the sentences, which had previously been 10 and 7 years. In his letter, Giuseppe Monopoli stated, “I am not asking for vengeance,” but rather called for institutional responsibility and judicial reform. He questioned the value placed on human life within criminal proceedings and urged lawmakers to listen to the families of victims to address systemic issues in how violent crimes are handled.