Overview

• Within 48 hours, Gianpaolo Demartis, 57, died after being tasered in Olbia and Elton Bani, 41, died after carabinieri used a taser near Genoa.
• Genova prosecutors opened a case for manslaughter and registered four carabinieri as indagati, with initial reports noting Bani was hit by three discharges before collapsing.
• In Olbia, two carabinieri—the patrol leader and the operator who fired—are under investigation for manslaughter, with an autopsy set for Thursday; relatives say Demartis had a cardiac condition.
• Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi called the taser “indispensable” for avoiding firearms, echoing support from police unions, while AVS and +Europa urged suspension or tighter controls.
• Italy has used tasers under national protocols since 2022 with about 5,000 devices; prior cases show mixed forensic outcomes and the tools carry heightened risks for people with heart disease or under certain substances.