22.04.2026 15:22
The investigation into the tragic death of Prada store manager Chiara Jaconis in Paris has entered a new phase. There are serious allegations against the family of the 13-year-old child.
Chiara Jaconis, a 30-year-old who worked as the store manager for the world-famous fashion brand Prada in Paris, tragically lost her life in Naples last September while visiting to celebrate her birthday. The investigation into Jaconis's death entered a new phase as of April 21, 2026. The prosecutor's office has requested a trial for the parents of the 13-year-old child, who is alleged to have been grossly negligent in the incident, on charges of manslaughter and neglect of supervisory duty.
Jaconis, originally from Padua but continuing her career in France, was taking a final walk with her boyfriend in Naples's historic Quartieri Spagnoli (Spanish Quarters) district. Chiara, from the couple who were walking down the street with their suitcases to go to the airport, became the target of an onyx statuette weighing approximately 2 kilograms thrown from one of the balconies.
Security camera footage from the moment of the incident shows Jaconis collapsing to the ground instantly upon being hit by the statue, while her boyfriend is seen screaming for help in desperation. The young woman, taken to the hospital, lost her two-day struggle for life on September 17, 2024, due to brain trauma.
According to Italian law, the 13-year-old child determined to have carried out the incident was acquitted because, being under the age of 14, they lacked criminal responsibility. However, Naples prosecutors argue that the tragedy could have been prevented with parental supervision. Investigations revealed that the child had previously thrown dangerous objects from the balcony in a similar manner, yet the family had not taken the necessary precautions.
The authorities conducting the investigation state that, under the principle of "culpa in vigilando" (supervisory negligence) in Italian law, the parents should be held directly responsible for their child's actions.
The mother and father, who are defendants, deny all charges. In a statement made through their lawyers, they claimed that the statue in question did not belong to them and that they had no connection to the incident whatsoever.
Even more striking was the family's appeal against the decision regarding their child. The family is demanding not only that their child be exempted due to "age limit," but also that they be officially recognized as "completely innocent" in terms of the concrete facts of the incident. This demand has caused great disappointment in Italian public opinion and within the Jaconis family.
Following the request for trial, Chiara Jaconis's father, Gianfranco Jaconis, described this step as "a step towards the truth." The preliminary hearing, where it will be decided whether the case will proceed to trial, will be held at the Naples Court.
This case has reopened debates on many issues, from safety measures in densely populated cities to the legal responsibility limits of parents.