Italian Court Reopens Probe into Prada Manager's Death by Falling Statue
Chiara Jaconis, 30, died two years ago after being struck by a statuette; her mother continues to seek justice.
An Italian court has reopened the investigation into the death of Chiara Jaconis, a Prada manager who was killed two years ago in Naples. Jaconis, 30, died from injuries sustained when a statuette was pushed off a balcony, allegedly by a 13-year-old boy.
The reopening of the case by Italy's Juvenile Court of Appeals aims to determine which of two statuettes, a 4.85-pound statue of Pharaoh Akhenaten or a 10-pound bust of Queen Nefertiti, struck Jaconis. The objects fell approximately 32 feet from a third-floor balcony.
Jaconis was on vacation in Naples celebrating her birthday when she was struck. She was walking with her boyfriend, Livio Rousseau, through the city's Spanish Quarter while transporting luggage to the airport. The incident occurred in September 2024.
While investigators identified the 13-year-old boy as the one who pushed the statuette, he was not held criminally responsible under Italian law, which does not hold individuals under 14 criminally liable. The boy's parents have been charged with manslaughter, with prosecutors alleging they failed to adequately supervise him and secure the balcony, despite knowing of his past behavior of throwing items from heights.
Chiara Jaconis's mother, Cristina Venturi, has expressed her continued pursuit of justice. "Two years have passed and we are still waiting for justice," Venturi told Il Gazettino. "We are calling for accountability and for Chiara to receive the justice she deserves."
Jaconis had been working for Prada since October 2022, managing 15 stores across France, Monaco, and Belgium. Previously, she held positions at fashion brands such as L’Oréal, Givenchy, and Christian Louboutin in Paris.