A 29-year-old man from Cardano al Campo remains in custody following his arrest on Monday in connection with a violent assault involving a baseball bat outside a post office on Via Meda.
Judge Veronica Giacoia ordered the suspect to remain in jail following an interrogation held on Tuesday. While the judge did not validate the initial detention of the suspect for procedural legal reasons, she mandated pre-trial detention in prison, according to reports from Prealpina.
The suspect, represented by lawyer Corrado Viazzo, denied the allegations of attempted murder. During his testimony before the judge, he claimed, “I was defending myself. He was running away with a friend on a scooter, he was taking my money, I chased them and they beat me.”
The backstory of the confrontation remains disputed, with the suspect and the 18-year-old victim providing contradictory versions of events. The suspect alleged he used the younger man to facilitate the withdrawal of a €1,000 portion of a €3,000 winnings claim from a Sunday bet at a Snai betting shop, though he did not clarify why he required the intermediary.
The victim offered a different account, describing the 29-year-old as an expert in bank fraud who had been using him as a front for a week. The victim said that the suspect funneled transfers from unsuspecting account holders into his name, promising him a one percent commission. The victim claimed that despite daily withdrawals ranging from €1,500 to €2,500, he had only received €170 and a few cigarettes for his involvement.
Tensions escalated on Monday morning at the Beata Giuliana post office. The victim reported that he was only able to withdraw €1,000 due to local transaction limits. He handed the cash to the suspect, who was waiting in a car, before leaving for a nearby bar.
Moments later, the suspect allegedly arrived, shouting insults and wielding a baseball bat. The victim told authorities that the suspect screamed, “I will kill you,” before striking him in the head. The victim lost consciousness, but later fled the scene with a friend on a scooter. They were reportedly pursued by the suspect’s car, eventually being rammed and knocked to the pavement.
The victim was transported to a hospital with a 30-day prognosis for his injuries. While he was under the protection of local municipal police, the suspect reportedly appeared at the hospital to inquire about the young man’s status. Investigators, who had already identified the aggressor through security camera footage and witness information, arrested the 29-year-old when he returned to the facility that evening.
