Satanic band ’caused four deaths’

Prosecutors called on an Italian court today to impose heavy jail sentences on two members of a Satanic rock group accused of murdering three people and inciting a fourth to suicide in a case that has shocked Italy.

The court was asked to impose sentences of 20 years and 16 years respectively for Andrea Volpe and Pietro Guerrieri, who are accused of being the leaders of the “black metal” rock group Beasts of Satan, obsessed by Satanic rites.

Lawyers for Mr Volpe and Mr Guerrieri have opted for an accelerated trial procedure, which under Italian law leads to reduced sentencing. They are due to be sentenced tonight or tomorrow (AEDT).

Five other members of the group would be sentenced on the same charges on June 21, the court said. The eighth member of the group on trial faces a lesser charge of associating with criminals.

The preliminary judge Maria Greca Zoncu rejected a defence request that an exorcist be called in to treat their clients, on the grounds that “demonic possession is not covered by our penal code”.

Two teenage members of the Beasts of Satan, Chiara Marino and Fabio Tollis, were found in a pit in woods northwest of Milan last year after going missing in 1998. They had been beaten and stabbed, prosecutors said.

The third victim, Mariangela Pezzotta, 27, was Mr Volpe’s former girlfriend. Investigators believe she may have been murdered after finding out about the other killings.

Prosecutors believe a fourth victim was pushed into taking a drug overdose, from which he died.

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