Health · Healthcare & Policy · 5 hrs ago
Prosecutor seeks 14 years for each parent over son’s cancer death
A prosecutor in Vicenza is seeking 14 years in prison for each parent of Francesco, who died at 14 in January 2024.
Luigi Gianello and Martina Binotto are charged with intentional homicide with possible intent over their son’s death from osteosarcoma.
Francesco was diagnosed with cancer in 2022 at an institute in Bologna.
Prosecutors say his parents relied on the Hamer method instead of standard cancer treatment, and a court-appointed assessment concluded that timely chemotherapy and surgery could have saved him.
The defence disputes that the parents’ decisions caused his death.
The trial court has not yet issued a verdict, and its decision is expected next week.
Prosecutor Paolo Fietta has asked for 14 years in prison each for Luigi Gianello and Martina Binotto over the death of their 14-year-old son, Francesco.
The parents are on trial in Vicenza, accused of voluntary manslaughter with eventual intent after relying on the Hamer method instead of conventional cancer treatment.
Court-appointed experts said Francesco could have been saved with timely chemotherapy and surgery.
Francesco was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in 2022 and died in January 2024.
The court’s verdict is expected next week.
- Who
- Luigi Gianello and Martina Binotto, Francesco’s parents, are on trial.
- What
- Prosecutor Paolo Fietta has requested 14 years in prison for each parent over their son’s death.
- When
- The request was made on November 11, 2026. Francesco died in January 2024.
- Where
- The case is before the Court of Assize in Vicenza, Italy.
- Why
- Prosecutors say the parents relied on the Hamer method instead of timely conventional cancer treatment, which experts said could have saved Francesco.
Prosecution
Defence
Causation
Prosecution
The court-appointed experts said Francesco could have been saved with timely chemotherapy and surgery.
Defence
The defence argued that a causal link between the parents’ decisions and their son’s death had not been proved.
Treatment choices
Prosecution
The prosecution says the parents relied on the Hamer method rather than conventional cancer treatment.
Defence
Not stated.
Francesco was diagnosed with osteosarcoma at the Rizzoli Institute in Bologna.
Court-appointed experts filed a report saying Francesco could have been saved with timely chemotherapy and surgery.
Francesco died at age 14.
Prosecutor Paolo Fietta requested 14 years in prison for each parent.
The court’s verdict is expected.
- Defendants
- Luigi Gianello and Martina Binotto
- Prosecutor
- Paolo Fietta
- Requested sentence
- 14 years in prison for each parent
- Charge
- Voluntary manslaughter with eventual intent
- Diagnosis
- Osteosarcoma, diagnosed in 2022 at the Rizzoli Institute in Bologna
- Death
- January 2024, aged 14