Italian man Dimitri Fricano, convicted of stabbing his girlfriend 57 times, has been released from prison due to concerns that the high-calorie prison diet could harm his health. Fricano, who weighs 200 kg, will serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest. The victim’s family has criticized the decision. India Today World Desk reported
Italian Man Convicted of Brutal Murder Released from Prison
A 200 kg Italian man named Dimitri Fricano, aged 35, has been released from prison after a court ruled that the high-calorie diet served to him could potentially be fatal to his health. Fricano had been convicted of brutally stabbing his girlfriend, Erika Preti, 57 times in 2017. The incident occurred during their vacation in Sardinia, Italy, after Preti had confronted Fricano about leaving bread crumbs on the bed.
Conviction and Delayed Imprisonment
Fricano was initially sentenced to 30 years in prison by The Turin Surveillance Court in 2019, but due to delays caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, he began his jail term in April 2022. At the time of his sentencing, Fricano weighed nearly 118 kg.
Health Complications and Release
During his time in prison, Fricano’s weight skyrocketed to 200 kg. Concerned about his deteriorating health, the court decided to release him on medical grounds. The court stated that Fricano’s excessive weight made it challenging for him to move around without assistance, such as a wheelchair or crutches. Additionally, Fricano’s status as a chain smoker further complicated his condition. The prison authorities were unable to provide him with the low-calorie diet required for weight loss.
House Arrest and Family’s Reaction
In accordance with the court’s ruling, Fricano will serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest at his parents’ residence near Milan, where he can access a suitable low-calorie diet. However, the victim’s family strongly disapproved of this decision, considering it “shameful.” Fabrizio Preti, Erika Preti’s father, expressed his pain, stating that no one could bring back his daughter, and releasing Fricano so soon was difficult to accept.
The Tragic Incident of 2017
The fatal altercation between Fricano and Preti occurred in June 2017 while they were vacationing in San Teodoro, Sardinia. The argument erupted over Fricano’s messy eating habits. Fricano claimed that Preti hit him with a paperweight, leading him to grab a knife and repeatedly stab her. Initially, Fricano tried to blame the murder on robbers but eventually confessed to the crime during police questioning. According to Fricano’s defense, he suffers from various medical conditions, including anxiety-depressive bulimia syndrome, personality disorder, and sleep apnea.
Medical Justification for Release
Medical professionals attested that Fricano’s health was at high risk of cardiovascular disease, and he required a specialized diet that the Turin prison could not provide. Taking the doctors’ opinions into account, the judges of the Turin Surveillance Court agreed that Fricano needed assistance that the institution could not offer, leading to his release.
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