In this combo photo released by Italian Carabinieri, Finnegan Lee Elder, sits in his hotel room in Rome. (Italian Carabinieri via AP)
The parents of one of the teenagers accused of killing an Italian police officer are speaking out. This came as the teen’s lawyer claimed “foul-play” by Italian prosecutors.
Parents of 19-year-old Finnegan Elder broke their silence Friday, just days before their son heads to trial.
Elder and a friend are facing aggravated murder and attempted extortion charges in connection with the stabbing of an officer in Rome last year.
Although the teen admitted to the stabbing, he claimed self defense and said the officers failed to identify themselves as officials and he feared for his life.
Family members of Finnegan Elder embrace as their family attorney Craig Peters, right, speaks to members of the media in front of their home in San Francisco on Saturday, Aug. 3, 2019. (AP Photo/Josh Edelson)
Elder’s defense team claimed poorly translated transcripts are playing out in the prosecution’s favor. His parents said they worry their son is being mistreated by police.
“The pain is relentless,” stated the father Ethan Elder. “It’s constant, it’s when we go to sleep, it’s when we wake up, it’s when we sit together, when we’re happy, it’s when we’re sad, it’s always there.”
Elder’s trial is set to begin Feb. 26.
