Italy justice minister says prison knew fugitive serial killer's past when it gave him leave | iNFOnews | Thompson-Okanagan's News Source
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Italy justice minister says prison knew fugitive serial killer's past when it gave him leave

An undated photo showing Bartolomeo Gagliano, a convicted serial killer who was allowed to leave a Genoa prison on a two-day, good-behavior pass to see his elderly mother but failed to return. Police Italy has launched a manhunt for Gagliano, who is reportedly armed and "dangerous." Authorities said while Gagliano was allowed out Tuesday to visit his mother in Savona he forced a baker at gunpoint to start driving him away. He then forced the driver out of the car and drove off. There are fears he might have driven across the nearby border into France. Gagliano was convicted of fatally stoning one prostitute and wounding another in 1981, and after escaping from a criminal asylum, killing two others in 1989. He has escaped six times in all. (AP Photo/Tano Pecoraro)

ROME - Italy's justice minister says prison officials knew of a serial killer's lengthy criminal record when they let him go visit his elderly mother and then escaped.

But Annamaria Cancellieri defended the practice of granting such good-behaviour passes as necessary to begin reintegrating inmates due for release back into society.

Cancellieri briefed Parliament on Friday as the manhunt continued for Bartolomeo Gagliano, who was let out of prison in Genoa on a two-day pass for good behaviour earlier this week. He carjacked a baker at gunpoint in Savona and later drove off in his car.

While criticizing aspects of Gagliano's case, Cancellieri defended the granting of such passes as necessary and generally safe, citing a 1 per cent no-return rate.

News from © The Associated Press, 2013
The Associated Press

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