ROME, Oct 26 (Reuters) – An Italian prosecutor requested a life sentence on Monday for a US citizen accused of murdering his partner and their 13-month-old daughter, whose bodies were discovered last year in a park in central Rome.
The suspect, identified as Francis Kaufmann, was arrested on the Greek island of Skiathos on June 13, 2025, a week after the two bodies were found in Villa Pamphili, based on evidence including witness testimony and surveillance footage.
Kaufmann, who also used the alias Rexal Ford, is on trial for double homicide. Prosecutor Antonio Verdi asked the court to sentence him to life imprisonment, with three years of daytime solitary confinement.
The prosecutor described Kaufmann as manipulative and narcissistic but did not explain what motive investigators believed lay behind the killings.
A lawyer for Kaufmann did not immediately respond to a request for comment. During the trial, Kaufmann — who is being held in a Rome jail — maintained his innocence.
A first-instance verdict is expected on November 5. Under Italian law, defendants are entitled to two levels of appeal.
(Reporting by Marco Roberti; Writing by Angelo Amante; Editing by Bill Berkrot)
