Mario Roggero asks President Mattarella to consider clemency while in Bollate prison

Mario Roggero, a 72‑year‑old jeweller from Grinzane Cavour, was sentenced to 14 years and 9 months for killing two men who attempted to rob his shop and injuring a third. He is serving his term at the Bollate prison near Milan.

During a visit by Lega senator Giorgio Bergesio, Roggero reiterated his appeal to President Sergio Mattarella, asking that his request for a presidential pardon be examined “with much attention and humanity, beyond the polemics that have marked his case.” Roggero thanked supporters, said he is coping with prison life, and expressed confidence that the process will be handled fairly.

A separate hearing on a request to defer his sentence is scheduled for 16 September, and Bergesio announced that Roggero will begin volunteer work in the prison’s legal‑aid and social‑secretariat desks. Former deputy prime minister Matteo Salvini also voiced political support, stating he would consider a candidacy for Roggero if a legal path existed. The case continues to spark public debate over legitimate defence and proportionality of punishment.