Four children aged 11 to 13 have been arrested after a stolen car killed a 71-year-old woman in Milan.
Cecilia De Astis, a widowed grandmother, was hit at high speed while walking in the Gratosoglio neighbourhood. Witnesses say some of the children fled to a nearby Roma camp before being arrested.
The Citroën, with French plates, had been stolen from a tourist visiting Milan. The car skidded, mounted the curb, and threw De Astis ten metres before hitting a road sign. “She was a good woman. You can’t die like that,” her granddaughter said.
Police are investigating fingerprints, phone records, and CCTV footage. The suspects cannot be criminally charged under Italian law, which sets the age of responsibility at 14. Politicians have called for the illegal camp’s removal, while Milan’s mayor condemned using the tragedy for political gain.
This heartbreaking case has shaken the community. It’s a reminder that reckless actions can destroy lives in seconds — and justice for Cecilia is now in the hands of the juvenile prosecutor’s office.
