Gina Lollobrigida and personal assisant Andrea Piazzolla.Photo:Ferrajuolo/SGP/Shutterstock
Ferrajuolo/SGP/Shutterstock
Gina Lollobrigida’s personal assistant has reportedly been given a three-year sentence for stealing millions from the Hollywood starbefore her death in Januaryat the age of 95.
According to U.K. newspaperThe Times, a court in Rome ruled Monday that Andrea Piazzolla, 36, must immediately hand over more than €450,000 — approximately $482,000 — to Lollobrigida’s son, Milko Skofic Jr., her only child with ex-husband Milko Skofic.
The court also ruled that a civil judge would assess the total amount Piazzolla stole from Lollobrigida, which her son has valued at €5 million ($5.36 million), per the outlet.
Piazzolla, who has said he will appeal against his sentence, also allegedly bought a Ferrari with Lollobrigida’s money and then sold it and gave the money to his parents, addedThe Times.
Maria Laura Antonelli/AGF/Shutterstock
Piazzolla reportedly started working for Lollobrigida as an assistant in 2009 and eventually moved into her villa on the historic Appian Way in Rome, according to U.K. newspaperThe Telegraph.
According to the Italian newspaperLa Stampa, he was charged with “circumvention of an incompetent person” for stealing assets from Lollobrigida between 2013 and 2018, and was accused of taking advantage of her mental state and causing her to isolate herself from her family.
Per a translation of the publication, prosecutor Eleonora Fini highlighted Lollobrigida’s “state of fragility” and “vulnerability” during the trial. Italian newspaperla Repubblicaalso reported via translation that forensic expert Massimo Di Genio said Lollobrigida had been the victim of “weakening of the correct perception of reality.”
Gina Lollobrigida attends the 7th Rome Film Festival in 2012.Tullio M. Puglia/Getty
The trial started before Lollobrigida’s death during which she defended her assistant and said he was “like a son,” to her, reportedThe Times. She also claimed her son Skofic Jr. had “disappeared from my life for years and returned, not to give me affectionate support, but to take my wealth away from me.”
Despite this, Piazzolla was accused of “brainwashing” the award-winning star and a court-appointed expert ruled that she could not handle her own finances, reportedThe Times.
Speaking after the verdict, Piazzolla said, “I was the only one lovingly taking care of Gina Lollobrigida," per the outlet.
Gina Lollobrigida.VINCENT AMALVY/AFP via Getty
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Lollobrigida’s illustrious Hollywood career saw her work with the likes ofHumphrey Bogart,Frank Sinatra,Errol FlynnandRock Hudsonin the 1950s and 1960s.
She appeared in several Italian films before her breakout English-language role in 1954’sBeat the Devil. Seven years later Lollobrigida won aGolden Globe Awardfor her role in the 1961 romantic comedyCome Septemberopposite Hudson. She received three Golden Globes nominations in her lifetime and aBAFTAnomination for her role in 1953’s Italian romantic comedyBread, Love and Dreams.
She died in Rome on Jan. 16, her agentconfirmed to the Associated Press. The previous September she had undergone leg surgery after suffering a fall, the outlet added.
“Farewell to a diva of the silver screen, protagonist of more than half a century of Italian cinema history,” Italian Culture minister Gennaro Sangiulianowrote on Twitter. “Her charm will remain eternal.”
source: people.com
