Italian socialite sentenced for repeatedly running down bag thief with her Mercedes SUV

A wealthy Italian socialite who was charged with running down a bag thief with her Mercedes SUV has been given an 18-year sentence for the murder.Stony-faced Cinzia Dal Pino, 67, was joined by her daughter for Thursday’s hearing in Lucca, where she was told by the judge she can serve her voluntary homicide sentence at home, Italian outlet L’Unione Sarda reported.The beach resort entrepreneur was charged with murder after surveillance video appeared to show her mowing down suspected bag thief Nourdine Mezgoui, a Moroccan national, in September 2024.Prosecutor Sara Polino claimed Dal Pino ran down her victim using “excessive revenge” as she sought a life sentence.But Dal Pino’s defense team said she just wanted to take back her bag – and wanted her charge downgraded to “negligent excess of self-defense.”“I expected a different outcome, both in terms of the legal classification and the severity of the sentence,” Dal Pino’s lawyer Entico Marzaduri said, announcing he will appeal.Dal Pino refused to comment following Thursday’s sentencing, but her victim’s lawyer welcomed the verdict.“It’s the decision we’ve been waiting for—that is, harsh, severe.18 years is still a long time,” Enrico Carboni, who represents Mezgoui’s family, said, as reported by the Italian news agency ANSA.Gian Marco Romanini, who also represented the family, hailed prosecutors for a “serious meticulous job” and said, “We are reassured by this ruling.”Dal Pino ran over Mezgoui with her SUV after he allegedly stole her bag in Viareggo and she appeared to deliberately veer into him while he was walking alongside the sidewalk.She struck him several times before going over to his motionless body, grabbing her belongings, and leaving the scene.Mezgoui died from a severe laceration of the abdominal aorta and internal bleeding, coroners confirmed.Her team also alleged she was threatened with a knife – but cops didn’t recover a blade at the scene.She was orde...