Palermo pharmacist killed in robbery attempt

Giuseppina Iacona, 80, was killed for a loot of “just €3,700”, with one fo the assailants reportedly being her niece's fiancé, the website TGCom24 reported.

She was “much loved” in the town of just over 1,000 people and someone many people went to for advice, the website reported.

Two men – named in the press as Angelo Porcello, 50, and Gandolfo Giampapa, 18, have been arrested. Porcello was already under house arrest for another offence, but was often seen “wandering the streets”, while Giampapa was reportedly engaged to the victim’s niece.

Despite trying to fend off the attackers, Iacona was allegedly stabbed in the neck by Porcello as they tried to rob the shop on Wednesday evening.

Roberto Tobia, the president of the Federfarma Palermo, the chemists’ association, said Iacona was an example of “dedication and professionalism” as a pharmacist, who had “won the sympathy and affection of all”.  

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