American Teen Killers' Jail Sentences Reduced in Rome Officer's Death

Two Americans convicted in the 2019 killing of an Italian law enforcement officer in Rome have seen their sentences reduced on appeal, although their convictions have been upheld.

An appeals court in Italy has upheld the convictions of two American men for the 2019 killing of an Italian police officer during a botched drug deal in Rome, but has reduced their sentences.

Lee Elder Finnegan and Gabriele Natale-Hjorth were convicted in a new trial after Italy's high court overturned their previous convictions in March. In the new trial, Finnegan's sentence was reduced from 24 years to 15 years and two months, while Natale-Hjorth's sentence was reduced from 22 years to 11 years and four months. Additionally, Natale-Hjorth was fined $863.

American Teen Killers' Jail Sentences Reduced in Rome Officer's Death

The fatal confrontation occurred on July 26, 2019, when Finnegan, 18, and Natale-Hjorth, 19, met with a small-time drug dealer to recover money they had paid for cocaine that was never delivered. The drug dealer, who was working as a police informant, contacted the police, leading to a confrontation between the teens and two plainclothes officers.

During the altercation, Vice Brigadier Mario Cerciello Rega was stabbed 11 times with a knife that Finnegan and Natale-Hjorth had brought with them from their hotel room. Rega, who had recently returned from his honeymoon, was mourned as a national hero.

American Teen Killers' Jail Sentences Reduced in Rome Officer's Death

In ordering the retrial, the court noted that it had not been sufficiently established that the defendants, with their limited understanding of Italian, had realized they were dealing with police officers when they met with the alleged drug dealer. The defense maintained that the defendants were unaware they were facing law enforcement when the attack occurred, an argument they reiterated during the new trial.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

American Teen Killers' Jail Sentences Reduced in Rome Officer's Death