The Tempio Pausania Court acquitted Stefano Pilato of manslaughter in the death of cyclist Bruno Meloni (66, from Sassari), who was hit and killed by a BMW SUV in Arzachena during a race on June 15, 2013.

Stefano Pilato was defended by lawyers Jacopo Merlini and Nuri Venturelli, the latter a lawyer for the Italian Cycling Federation. It could be described as a judicial ordeal: Pilato was under indictment for 12 years, along with Lucio Arru and Antonio Camboni, race director and deputy race director, respectively, for the 2013 European Masters Cycling Championship. The three were accused of failing to comply with a prefectural order regulating road traffic.

Arru and Camboni were also acquitted with the broadest possible acquittal. The judge accepted the defense's argument that the implementation of safety measures (barriers, race personnel, and warnings) along the road where the accident occurred, near Arzachena, was the responsibility of law enforcement. The driver of the BMW, Michele Deiana, represented by Rino Cudoni and Luigi Esposito, was sentenced to eight months in prison and a four-year license suspension. The victim's family has filed a civil suit and is represented by Fabio Musilli.

© Riproduzione riservata