Italian Man Convicted of Stabbing Girlfriend 57 Times Released from Prison Due to High-Calorie Diet Threatening His Life

Accident – Death – Obituary News : 200 kg Italian Man Convicted of Brutal Stabbing Released from Prison Due to High-Calorie Diet

A 35-year-old Italian man, Dimitri Fricano, has been released from prison after serving time for the brutal murder of his girlfriend, Erika Preti. Fricano, who weighed nearly 118 kg at the time of his sentencing, was convicted by a local court for stabbing Preti over 57 times during a vacation in Sardinia, Italy, in 2017. The motive for the crime was allegedly an argument over bread crumbs left on the bed.

After being sentenced to 30 years in prison for the murder, Fricano began his jail term in April 2022 due to delays caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. However, over the past year, his weight skyrocketed to 200 kg, posing serious health risks. Concerned about his well-being, the court decided to release him on medical grounds, stating that he was “incompatible with the prison regime” due to his excessive weight, which made it difficult for him to move without a wheelchair or crutches.

Additionally, Fricano’s status as a chain smoker further complicated his situation. Prison officials were unable to provide him with the low-calorie diet necessary for weight loss. Therefore, the court concluded that it was not feasible to keep him incarcerated. As a result, Fricano will now serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest at his parents’ home near Milan, where he will have access to the specialized diet he requires.

However, the decision to release Fricano has been met with outrage from the victim’s family. Fabrizio Preti, Erika’s father, expressed his disappointment, calling the move “shameful.” He stated, “No one will give me back my little girl. But for us, the pain is still too strong for him to be released so soon. It was like receiving a stab to the heart.”

The gruesome incident that led to Erika Preti’s tragic death unfolded in June 2017 during the couple’s vacation in San Teodoro, Sardinia. An argument erupted between Fricano and Preti over his sloppy eating habits. Fricano claimed that Preti hit him with a paperweight, provoking him to retaliate by repeatedly stabbing her. Initially, he tried to cover up the crime by blaming it on robbers, but he eventually confessed during police questioning, stating, “She insulted me for the bread and then hit me in the head, so I killed her.”

According to Fricano’s defense counsel, he suffers from various medical conditions, including anxiety-depressive bulimia syndrome, personality disorder, and sleep apnea. Doctors have warned that Fricano is at high risk of cardiovascular disease and requires a special diet that the prison in Turin cannot provide.

Taking into account the medical opinions, the Turin Surveillance Court judges made the decision that Fricano “needs assistance that cannot be provided in the institution.” This ruling ultimately led to his release from prison.

The case of Dimitri Fricano has sparked controversy and raised questions about the justice system’s handling of such cases. While some argue that his health condition warranted his release, others believe that justice has not been served for Erika Preti’s family. As the community grapples with these contrasting views, the story serves as a reminder of the profound impact of domestic violence and the complexities of administering justice.

Published By: Sudeep Lavania
Published On: Nov 14, 2023.