San Francisco & Peninsula News

Lawyers For Bay Area Teen Held In Italian Police Killing Drop Bid For Release

September 16, 2019 / 8:13 AM PDT / CBS San Francisco

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ROME (CBS / AP) — The lawyers of one of two Bay Area teenagers being held in the slaying of an Italian police officer have dropped a request for their client to be released.

Lawyers for Gabriel Natale-Hjorth of Mill Valley, who's in custody for his alleged role in the fatal stabbing of Italian police officer Mario Cerciello Rega, said Monday they need time to study new evidence that emerged recently.

Finnegan Lee Elder (left); Gabriel Christian Natale-Hjorth

Lawyer Francesco Petrelli says "it was the only possible decision, as prosecutors told us there are new investigative activities ongoing."

Natale-Hjorth and his friend, Finnegan Lee Elder of San Francisco, were jailed in Rome in July as investigators probe their alleged roles in Cerciello Rega's death.

Mario Cerciello Rega, was stabbed to death in Rome. (Via AP)

Prosecutors say Elder stabbed Cerciello Rega while Natale-Hjorth scuffled with the officer's partner during a meeting organized by the teens to get money and cocaine in exchange for a backpack they had snatched.