On November 7, 1922, at the Hotel Polo Nord in Alleghe, Elisa Gabrieli, a 39-year-old woman originally from Rocca Pietore (Belluno), killed her husband Dino De Nicolao with three gunshots. This was the climax of a series of jealousy incidents stemming from her husband’s continuous infidelities. The couple resided in Padua, where Dino De Nicolao owned a luxurious pastry shop. Gabrieli’s final outburst of jealousy occurred on October 31, 1922, when she accused her husband of cheating on her with the domestic staff. Dino De Nicolao had a reputation as a Don Juan. In fact, as early as 1914, when his wife was on vacation, it seems Dino was having affairs with other women: “numerous were the seductions and attempted seductions in Padua, Modena, Venice, and elsewhere,” reported a newspaper article from La Stampa at the time. Elisa Gabrieli confessed to her crime while crying. Lawyer Bianco, the defendant’s counsel, argued for his client’s complete mental incapacity. The public prosecutor argued for partial mental incapacity and preterintentionality (harm caused beyond the intent). The jurors denied the woman’s total irresponsibility but admitted to partial mental defect, the sudden fit of rage (impeto d’ira), grave provocation, and granted mitigating circumstances. On March 22, 1924, after four days of trial, the President of the Court of Assizes of Belluno delivered a mild conviction sentence, partially accepting the defense’s request. Amazon.com
