Friday, March 14, 2008

AN ITALIAN TRAGEDY - 2

In a sad follow-up to this post, I have to tell you that the father of the two boys found dead in a cistern in Gravina, Puglia at the end of February has now been placed under house arrest: he was, at first, suspected of the boys' murder and was jailed but on Tuesday it was decided that his crime was "abandonment following death". It appears that crucial hours were lost in the search for the boys at the beginning [in June 2006] because there was a delay in raising the alarm. The search, it is thought, was further hampered by misinformation relayed to the police: the father hadn't spoken to the mother in a long time and bitterness, it seems, delayed the passing on of essential details to those searching for the boys.

I would hate to have to judge such a tragic case: two young lives have been lost and the lives of all concerned have been ruined. All I can say is that everyone who was watching this news on the screen in the Altro Posto stopped eating and looked stunned. "There but for the grace of god..." seemed to be the mood.

A whole community is recriminating itself and their Mayor blames the tragedy on " indifference and a lack of sensitivity".

Those poor little souls were missing for 20 months and now their mother at least knows what happened to them: but the torment she will suffer for all her remaining days is unimaginable.

Ellee has a post on the missing and the paramount importance of immediate action here.

10 comments:

Ellee Seymour said...

So how did the boys get down the well in the first place? Is the father suspected of doing that? How can he live with himself after this horrific crime.

Thank you for the link too.

Welshcakes Limoncello said...

Hi, Ellee. Well, it is thought that maybe they were running away from their father or they could have just been playing in this place. The building should have been secured, of course.

Leslie: said...

So sad, but at least someone is having to take some bit of responsibility.

Welshcakes Limoncello said...

Hi, Leslie. Yes, dreadful and my heart goes out to that whole community.

jmb said...

We often wonder why the police suspect parents so easily in these situations but it is often because of their previous experiences.
Tragic all around.

CherryPie said...

This is very sad... and if the father had no idea what had happened to them either, I just wonder how he is feeling now...

Welshcakes Limoncello said...

Hi, jmb. Yes, a tragedy for all and it must be harrowing for the police.

Welshcakes Limoncello said...

Hi, cherrypie. I wonder that, too...

Nunyaa said...

:-( how tragic and sad.

Welshcakes Limoncello said...

Hi, Nunyaa. Yes, it is one of those occasions when words fail all of us.

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